Acne is a tough problem for teens and a unique problem for adults. While teenage acne can cause serious social problems, adult acne can distract people from what you say in the workplace and make people very uncomfortable working with you. It is important to get information on adult acne that will help you rid yourself of this problem once and for all.

Adult acne is often the result of the sebaceous gland producing the oily substance known as sebum. The hair follicles may get trapped in the sebum with other debris and form a bacterial culture right inside your skin. As the bacterial colonies increase in size the pimples emerge.

Adult acne is a little less common than teenage acne. Approximately 20% of young adult women suffer from regular adult acne. In many cases the acne will disappear for months or years at a time, and then suddenly reappear. In women it is believed this may just be the result of some environmental factor or a change in hormonal balance. Some other factors that are known to contribute to adult acne in women are elevated stress levels, heavy cosmetic usage, and drugs.

The appearance of pimples often follows up the appearance of blackheads. Blackheads are actually acne that is exposed to the air. Blackheads get their black coloring do to oxidization that results from long-term air exposure. When you have red pimples, it is often the result of a blackhead becoming inflamed.

Whiteheads are essentially the same as blackheads, except that the acne has not been exposed to the air. This is why when whiteheads burst a milky white substance comes pouring out. In some cases it may also pour out green bacterial colonies.

Information About Stopping Adult Acne

I'm sure what you really want is information about how to get rid of your acne. Scrubbing it hard or picking at it is a common mistake people make. This just makes it inflamed and exaggerates the appearance. For simple blackheads you may be able to get buy with a commercial strip for peeling blackheads out of your skin. The strip for peeling is similar to a piece of tape with a sticky side that attaches to the blackheads and pulls them out when you peel it.

One of the most known myths about acne is that it is the result of eating peanuts, cheese, or chocolates. Peanuts actually contain some good nutrients. It is known that animal oils may contribute to some degree to decreased circulation, which may contribute to a lack of immune function at the skin level. Processed sugars also decrease immune function. But while it is true that a generally unhealthy diet can reduce your body's ability to fight off acne, the food itself does not cause the acne. It is more important to recognize that eating healthy foods can strengthen your body's ability to fight off bacterial infections such as acne.

It May Not Be Adult Acne

One last note is that not every pump that appears on your skin and is inflamed is necessarily acne. Folliculitis is often mistaken for acne, particularly on adult males with plenty of facial hair. Folliculitis is when a hair follicle is infected. Acne treatments are not typically effective treatments for folliculitis.