Adult Women’s Acne: Characteristics and Causes

Acne is most commonly associated with adolescence, when hormonal upheavals occur, resulting in unsightly blackheads and skin condition deterioration. Unfortunately, adults who develop acne are also common, with nearly 40% of women affected. This is a serious problem because skin changes are highly visible and hard to treat. What causes acne in adult women? What are its characteristics?

Adult Acne – Characteristics

Acne can be classified as inflammatory or non-inflammatory. The condition is mainly characterized by increased sebum production and intensified keratinization of the skin. This leads to clogging of sebaceous glands, resulting in so-called primary lesions, or blackheads. Blackheads can be categorized as:

• closed – formed by the accumulation of keratinocytes at the opening of sebaceous glands. They appear as very small white dots, felt as unevenness on the skin,
• open – commonly called comedones. Their dark color results from keratin oxidation and melanin accumulation. Open comedones have a small opening in the center from which a sebaceous keratinous mass exudes.

Blackheads are non-inflammatory lesions and symptoms of comedonal acne, which most often has a mild course. Unfortunately, blackheads, especially comedones, can easily become infected due to the activity of anaerobic bacteria. These bacteria release enzymes, contributing to inflammation. This results in papulopustular lesions. If adult acne becomes more severe, pus-filled infiltrates may develop on the skin, leaving behind difficult-to-remove and disfiguring scars.

Depending on the types of lesions present, we can distinguish:

• severe adult acne,
• papulopustular adult acne,
• comedonal adult acne.

Adult Acne – Causes of Development

The small number of adult acne cases is caused by hormonal problems. Causes include genetic predispositions or lifestyle factors. A common reason for adult acne is stress and the influence of hormones produced during stressful situations. Cortisol increases sebaceous gland activity and sebum production. This blocks pores and provides a breeding ground for bacteria, which multiply rapidly in the deep layers of the skin. This manifests as localized inflammatory conditions.

Another cause of adult acne is an improper diet and hypersensitivity to certain foods. Consuming highly processed, spicy foods, fast food, insufficient intake of fruits, vegetables, and whole foods, irregular meals, and snacking lead to improper body functioning, with the results visible on the skin as inflammatory states and eruptions.

The third cause of blackheads and face eruptions in adults is improper skincare, neglecting makeup removal and cleansing, and using unsuitable cosmetics for daily makeup and skincare that further block the outlets of sebaceous glands. Other factors contributing to acne include alcohol consumption, smoking cigarettes, taking certain medications, genetic factors, and lack of sleep.