Adult Acne

Misconceptions And Realities Of Adult Acne

Although adolescent acne is more prevalent in the world, adult acne is on the rise. More than half of adult women and a quarter of adult men have acne and all the scars that go along with it. This includes adults over thirty years old and even those going through menopause.

But the effects are different with adult acne, to the extent that acne involving adults is a whole different form, or classification, in itself, separate from adolescent acne. This is due not only to the age of the people inflicted, but also to social experience and physical make up.

Socially, adults are typically more set in their ways than teens and know their niche in their community. The prospect of adult acne as a serious problem once seemed a far and unlikely consideration. Studies show, however, that more adults now realize that the problem of acne is real for them and that science and medicine recognize adult acne as a viable and clinical condition. Because of this, more adults come forward to address a problem that affects their health and their lives on a real-world level.

The psychological effects of adult acne are not easy to detect, but many adults feel the pressure nonetheless--from the physical effects. Due to aged skin, adult acne leaves permanent scars. Older skin loses collagen, a fibrous connective protein, and so scars brought on by adult acne tend to irreversibly damage tissue. This negatively affects adult self-esteem due to the severity. In this way, the damage caused by adult acne is more lasting and hurtful than adolescent acne.

Medical support is available to specifically target adult acne. Proactiv Solution® and oral contraceptives are common forms of medication used in the fight. Since there are more women affected by acne than men, it is understandable that oral contraceptives serve as a leading medication to combat adult acne. Still, this is by no means the extent of medical efforts and research, considering the side effects of birth control.

Adult acne is a growing concern that will undoubtedly never completely go away, but educated support and ongoing research continue to find ways of improving and sustaining the well-being and quality of life for many adults. Hopefully, as a result, many more adults are likely to come forward and share insights that contribute to the world’s understanding of the problem.