While many associate suffering from acne with those troublesome teenage years, adult acne is a common problem. According to research by acne.org, 20.5% of men between the ages of 20 and 70 will suffer from adult acne, and that figure rises for those in their 20s to over 40%. Whilst suffering with acne as an adult can feel embarrassing and isolating, seeking help and finding the right treatment for you and your skin can transform your life.
Why Do Men Get Acne?
In general, the causes behind acne are the same regardless of gender.
Excess oil/sebum produced by the sebaceous glands in the skin trap bacteria and dead skin cells, which causes redness and inflammation – spots. These oily conditions can help certain bacteria to thrive, increasing the severity of the inflammation. Acne in men can be caused by various factors, including these as outlined by Dr Seth Rankin for GQ magazine:
Stress
Fluctuations in hormone levels associated with periods of stress can increase sebum production and trigger an inflammatory response.
With the pressures of modern daily life, stress is a common cause of adult acne.
How to Get Rid of Acne
While there is no single treatment that will fix all cases of male acne, there are some good daily changes you can make to improve the look of your skin. If these aren’t effective, your aesthetician will be able to help.