by Srikanth Radhakrishna

Created on: August 24, 2011   Last Updated: August 25, 2011

The adult acne is a common inflammatory disease involving the sebaceous glands of the skin. It is usually characterized by comedones (small bumps) or papules (pimples) or pustules (small elevation of the skin). Acne can affect people of all ages, but it is more common in teenagers.

Causes of Adult Acne

The adult acne is more common in women. It is mainly caused by hormonal changes in the body. Use of anabolic steroids may cause this medical condition. Medical disorders like Cushing's syndrome and polycystic ovary are known to cause acne in women. Acne is common during menopause. This is due to insufficient secretion of estradiol (anti-acne ovarian hormone) during this phase.

Build up of bacteria is another major cause of acne. Pregnant women are more likely to be affected by this skin disorder. Friction or pressure on the skin by external objects may cause this skin condition. 

Studies indicate that tendency to develop acne is heredity. However the exact genetic pattern is still unclear. Stress is known to cause acne. Over production of oil in the body is another major cause of this skin condition. The human body should periodically shed dead skin cells. Irregular shedding of dead skin cells is known to cause acne.

The adult acne is not caused by exposure to dirt. Some people believe that consumption of chocolates or greasy food causes acne, but it is not true. 

Treatments for Adult Acne

Physicians generally use benzoyl peroxide to treat mild form of acne. Cleansers like Aquanil are used to treat this skin condition. Tetracyclines, erythromycin and clindamycin are some antibiotics which are used to treat this skin condition. Topical retinoids (like Tazorac) help normalize follicle cell life-cycle. They are generally prescribed for acne. Oral retinoids (like Accutane) are found to be effective against this medical condition. 

Hormonal treatments are usually used to treat acne in women. Anti-inflammatory drugs like Nicotinamide are used by some physicians to treat this skin disorder. Phototherapy is found to be effective in treating mild to moderate acne. Cosmetic medical procedures like dermabrasion are recommended in some cases. Blue light therapy is used to kill acne causing bacteria. 

Tips to Prevent Acne

Regular usage of a good anti-bacterial soap goes a long way in preventing acne. It is very important to take care not to touch acne as far as possible. It is better to avoid oil based cosmetics. It is advisable to sleep for at least seven hours and to exercise regularly. These habits promote healthy skin. 

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