What Causes Adult Acne?

Why do we get acne?

Acne appears when a pore in our skin clogs. Normally, dead skin cells rise to the surface of the pore, and the body sheds the cells. When the body produces too much sebum (the oil that keeps our skin hydrated), the dead skin cells can stick together inside the pore. Instead of rising to the surface, the cells become trapped inside. Bacteria that live on our skin, known as p. acnes, also get inside the clogged pore, which is a perfect environment for bacteria to multiply quickly. The buildup of bacteria in the pore causes it to become inflamed. If the inflammation goes deep into the skin, an acne cyst or nodule may appear.

Signs of acne include blackheads, whiteheads, papules, pustules (aka pimples) and cysts. In teenagers, acne is part-genetic, part-hormonal and largely the result of increased oil production. Adult acne tends to be deeper, more painful and more cyclical. It is usually caused by stress or hormonal fluctuations and is centralized around the mouth, jaw and chin. Because cell turnover slows with age, adult skin can take longer to heal and can be complicated by pigmentation issues.

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