There is no simple answer to this simple question “who gets acne?”. Although acne is most often found in adolescents, this does not mean that adults are free of acne. In fact, many adults in their 30s and 40s still have acne. So acne only occurs in teenagers is a MYTH.

The main causes of acne are the overproduction of body oils or sebum, excess dead skin cells, and inflammation from bacteria. When oils and dead skin cells get trapped in a follicle, the pores in the skin become clogged. This becomes the breeding ground for bacteria, allowing bacteria to thrive and therefore cause inflammation and acne breakouts. Hormones called androgens are believed to be a major driver of increased sebum production.

Not surprisingly, acne appears most prominently during adolescence because bodily and hormonal changes peak during adolescent puberty; causing what are known as “hormonal imbalances”, which are believed to be the root cause of acne. Acne usually develops in girls around age 11 and in boys at age 13, the average age at which both genders enter puberty.

Although girls start to develop acne earlier than boys, the latter, however, tend to develop more severe acne. This is because boys produce considerably more androgen hormones than girls. About 40% of teen acne is severe enough to warrant treatment by a dermatologist.

But the balance tips as we get older. As mentioned, many adults have acne, women are more susceptible than men. Some studies show that almost 85% of the US population between the ages of 12 and 24 develop some form of acne. Both men and women are equally susceptible to acne during this age range; but women tend to have a higher incidence of acne after the age of 25. About 25% of these people also have acne on other parts of the body besides the face; most commonly around the back and neck areas.

Many women suffer from acne breakouts during the time of menstruation. In fact, some studies show that a woman’s menstrual cycle has a direct impact on acne. This is often referred to as “premenstrual acne” or “premenstrual acne.” Almost 44% of women between the ages of 20 and 32 experience premenstrual acne. The odds are even higher for women 33 and older. Hormonal contraceptives have often been used to treat PMS acne breakouts, as they help regulate hormonal spikes during menstruation.

Acne can occur at any age, even babies are not spared. Young babies often get little white dots that can last 3-6 weeks before they disappear. Acne can also appear in people over the age of 50 and even later in life. Acne at this age is often influenced by hormonal factors, androgen sex hormones are the main culprits, causing the production of sebum that clogs the skin pores.

In conclusion, acne is not just a problem for teenagers, there are many people in their 30s, 40s and older who also suffer from acne. If you are concerned about acne, check out our acne skin care guide online first before purchasing another acne treatment product.