What do they all have in common? They all become a thing of your past once you reach adulthood. Right? Wrong. Especially if you’re talking about those pesky pimples. If you thought post adolescence bought you a ticket to the clear complexion club, think again.
Adult acne is very real – and it can follow you through your 20s, 30s and beyond.
You may even be part of the crowd that finds itself saddled with late-onset or adult-onset acne. This kind of acne can pop up after teen acne, once you’ve enjoyed an acne-free decade or so.
A study published in the 2012 issue of The Journal of Women’s Health found that a significant portion of the female population has some form of acne.
• 45 percent of women aged 21-30
• 26 percent of women aged 31-40
• 12 percent of women aged 41-50
The acne vulgaris that adults get is different from what teens suffer. The pimples you had as a youth probably popped up all over your face and possibly the neck and chest. These were caused by the overproduction of sebum. Teen acne occurs more in the upper layers of skin and will heal and disappear if you express (pop) the pimple.
Adult women tend to get their pimples more around the mouth, jawline and lips and often theirs is of the cystic variety. Cystic acne is caused by hormone changes. Cystic acne occurs in a deeper layer of skin. Prodding and attempting to pop these zits will lead to red, angry skin, and the pimple likely spreading over a larger area of the face. Doesn’t sound too pretty does it?