What Causes Adult Acne?

Help! I'm over 30 and I have Zits - What Causes Adult Acne?

No grown women expects to suffer from Acne. In fact, many women feel that they are the butt of some cruel cosmic joke, because they are developing wrinkles and acne at the same time. There is a widely held perception that Acne is a teenage malady and something that is easily and eventually outgrown. But this is a myth.

But Adult Acne is actually quite common. Adult Acne occurs for the same reasons as teen acne. There are as many reasons and theories for the onset of adult acne as there are experts. Some of the most common reasons cited as the cause of adult acne are subtle hormonal changes, genetics, stress and a poor diet. Other acne experts lay the cause of adult acne at the feet of the hormones and antibiotics we unwittingly consume through the meat we eat.

What ever the cause of adult acne it differs from teen acne is some important ways. Adult acne lesions are deeper and more likely to occur in the center of the face. Older skin is also less resilient and scars far more quickly than teenage skin.

Some skin care specialists say that inflammatory acne is caused by your body's immune system overreacting to a normally harmless bacteria that is found in the hair follicles and pores.

Adult Acne is also a whole lot more common in women. Hormones and the frequent hormonal changes are thought to be the key factor in the development of female adult acne.

Each time there is a major hormonal shift a women becomes susceptible to developing adult acne. And these hormonal shifts are occurring throughout a woman's lifespan. The onset of menstruation, the start of the monthly period, pregnancy and menopause, stopping and starting the pill are all times when a woman is more at risk of developing acne or suffering from an acne flare-up.

Many women have experienced an acne flare-up just before their periods. In fact even those women who normally have clear skin will have a pimple or two around the time they have their monthly cycle.

Other women have linked the onset of their adult acne with beginning infertility treatment. You need to be especially careful when treating Adult Acne in pregnancy, because you don't want to harm the unborn baby.

Menopausal Acne is particularly difficult to deal with emotionally, because women fell that they are loosing their youth and developing acne at the same time. Dealing with acne and wrinkles in one go is pretty rough. Menopausal acne is caused by the lack of estrogen.

The good news about adult acne is that it responds well to conventional acne treatments and with proper management can disappear completely or at least be reduced significantly.

A few months ago I came across Acne Free In 3 Days

I must admit that I was skeptical, but what prompted me to take a closer look was the fact that this guy had appeared on so many TV shows speaking about his book.

He has been on Fox News, CBS, AM Arizona and others.

This is what Jo Hooks of The Birmingham Times had to say:

"A basic testimonial, instructive, and not overstated book regarding acne. When you read this book, you will be amazingly surprised at the easy-to-do solutions he has to get rid of your acne problem. Author Chris Gibson's groundbreaking rule book can dramatically change the life of anyone living with the effects of acne..."

Jo Hooks - The Birmingham Times

What I loved most about the book was that it provides a solution to adult acne sufferers, unlike many other Acne related products which are aimed primarily at teens.

It also deals with the root cause of Acne, not just masking the symptoms, as most of the Acne products on the market do.

Now I must admit that it may take a little longer than 3 days, closer to about 5-6 days for a dramatic difference to show.

Take a closer look at Acne Free In 3 Days

Common causes of acne

I always wanted to know why I had acne and other people do not. Worldwide, 60 million people suffer like I did.

I did some research and talked to my doctor to find the most common causes of acne.

• Hormones: The number one cause of acne is the production of sex hormones, known as androgen, that begins at puberty. This is why majority of acne sufferers are adolescents and teens. Hormones are responsible for then acne flare-ups during menstruation and pregnancy.


• When the sebaceous gland is stimulated by androgens, it produces extra sebum. In its journey up the follicle toward the surface, the sebum mixes with common skin bacteria and dead skin cells that have been shed from the lining of the follicle. While this process is normal, the presence of extra sebum in the follicle increases the chances of clogging - and acne.


• Stress: can also cause the production of hormones, such as cortisol, which can aggravate acne. Stress brings upon different hormone levels. With hormone changes the body prompts the skins oil glands to enlarge, secreting more oil. Which causes white heads, black heads and pimples.


• Oily or heavy make up: Heavy make-up clogs the pores and oily make-ups add more oil, which only adds to the problem if oily skin already exists. Cosmetics, especially certain moisturizers, foundations and pomades contain lanolin, petrolatum, vegetable oils, butyl stearate, lauryl alcohol and oleic acid.


• Certain medications and steroids: Vitamins are good for your body, But an excess of vitamins B1, B6 and B12 can cause acne flare-ups. These vitamins are good for the skin, but avoid overuse.


• Diets: For some people, a diet that is high in refined carbohydrates and sugars can actually aggravate their acne.


• Over abrasive cleansing: Harsh exfoliators can damage skin and spread infections.


• Picking and squeezing: This can actually send the infection deeper into the skin and can cause scarring.


• Environmental irritants: such as high humidity and pollution. High humidity actually causes swelling of skin. Pollution is of course is a big cause for clogging your pores.


• Genes: Family members who are also acne sufferers. Acne is inherited and severe cases known as cystic acne usually come from heredity.

How hormones affect zits and skin

Implicated in a wide range of conditions and illnesses, hormones also play a role in the development of acne - inflammation of the skin that causes blackheads, whiteheads, and red spots usually called "pimples" or "zits." Androgens, hormones that are secreted in different amounts by both men and women, play a huge role in most cases of acne. Androgens stimulate the hormone-sensitive sebaceous glands, which produce oil known as sebum. Sebum, in turn, has been labeled as "the fuel that feeds the flame of acne."

Teens are more likely to suffer from breakouts because at the onset of puberty, their bodies begin to produce androgens. These "male" hormones are a natural part of development for both boys and girls, but boys tend to produce more of them, resulting in more severe breakouts. After about age 20, sebum production begins to decrease but it can flare up again at any age.

Due to the presence of androgens, your oil glands go into overdrive. They produce extra oil, which block your follicles and clump together with the dead skin cells on the top layer of your skin. When this sticky mixture works its way into your pores, it acts just like a cork in a bottle -- trapping oil and bacteria inside. Unfortunately, your oil glands cannot determine when to stop so they keep producing oil thus making the follicle swollen. Your body's natural defense system -- white blood cells -- rush to the area to produce an enzyme that damages the wall of the follicle, allowing the contents of the follicle to enter the dermis. This process causes an inflammatory response that results in either red, painful bumps (papules); blackheads and whiteheads (comedones); pimples or acne. Contrary to common belief, this condition has nothing to do with what you eat, or how often you wash your face.

Dermatologists point out that dietary factors neither cause nor cure acne. In almost all cases, the food you eat has almost nothing to do with your acne, except for those containing iodine and muscle-enhancing steroids. If you ingest a large amount of iodine like mineral pills, your acne will likely flare up. Steroids have also been known to cause a type of acne referred to as steroid acne.

Hormones affect acne but having acne is not a sign of a hormonal imbalance. Changes in hormones, such as the specific point in your menstrual cycle (ovulation vs. having your period), pregnancy, or menopause all are normal, yet all can cause dramatic changes in your skin condition.

Female hormone levels change and vary throughout the monthly cycle. These fluctuations do cause acne to flare and diminish depending on the time of the month. The most effective way to treat menstrual cycle acne is to treat the acne itself by applying topical medications, oral antibiotics, or even changing or adjusting a birth control pill since the hormones found in these contraceptives are also related to flare-ups of acne.

Several symptoms can help your dermatologist identify hormonally-influenced acne: adult-onset acne, or breakouts that appear for the first time in adults; acne flare-ups preceding the menstrual cycle; a history of irregular menstrual cycles, increased facial oiliness; Hirsutism (excessive growth of hair, or hair in unusual places); and elevated levels of certain androgens in the blood stream.

Cure Adult acne with ClearPores

Although the media rarely talks about it, acne is one of the biggest skin problems faced by adults. As many as 25 percent of all adult men and 50 percent of adult women suffer from acne outbreaks at some point in their lives. However, the rest are not spared the trouble associated with an occasional pimple or blackhead. The main cause for these late outbreaks is either the environment and food, flare-ups of acne cured in the 20s or simply the emergence of a whole new case of acne in people who have never suffered from it before.

It is believed that adult acne is caused by the overproduction of hormones in the body, which is why most treatments focus on lowering the level of hormones. Adult acne is usually treated with drugs under the supervision of a professional dermatologist. From my personal experience I can recommend a simpler treatment that is, believe it or not, just as effective.

The ClearPores System uses body washes containing Salicylic Acid and SD Alcohol 40 to open your pores and wash away all the grime and bacteria gathered therein. The body washes are accompanied by pills that fight bacteria from the inside and a cream that protects against further acne attacks.

Adult acne is not as infrequent as people like to think, but that does not mean that it has to be allowed to become a social drawback. If you suffer from adult acne, then you should see your doctor or simply give the ClearPores System a try. You'd be surprised how many adults got rid of their acne using the excellent ClearPores. Whatever the choice, you have my best wishes.

Who gets acne?

Believe it or not, nearly everybody in the world gets pimples. When the body shifts into higher gear and puberty begins at the age of 12, hormones start taking over. It doesn't matter if you're a man or a woman. It doesn't matter where you come from and who your parents were. I have never heard of a person who had stayed blemish-free in all the years of his or her life. Whether it's food or pollution, something is bound to upset your hormonal balance sooner or later.

More than 40 percent of all teens develop cases of acne severe enough to warrant medical treatment. Most cases are usually solved without the need for fancy treatments, although more than one trip to the doctor is required. However, modern medicine has produced a wide range of prescription and over-the-counter products to help people deal with their acne without unnecessary pain.

However, not all acne cases can be treated quite that easily. Acne comes and goes on its own, between the age of twelve and twenty-three, but some people develop severe forms of acne, while others get acne for the first time as adults. This is mostly the case for men. Because of the higher level of androgens in their systems, men are far more likely than women to suffer from acne. In women, acne is associated with their fertility cycle and the hormonal changes it entails.

While most cases of acne are confined to the facial skin, most of the people suffering from this condition experience at least the occasional blackhead or pimple down the arms, on the back, the chest or even on the buttocks.

The social impact of acne is huge. The unpleasant sight of pimples makes many people run to the near drugstore or pharmacy because of the perceived influence acne has in social relations. Every year, hundreds of millions of dollars are spent every year around the world on anti-acne products by people on five continents.