Acne can occur later on in life and acne beyond the twenties, a condition known as adult acne, is very common. In adult acne, the pimple is called a comedo by doctors. It consists of skin tissues, keratin, and fat that plugs up the hair follicle. If the pimple is open, it is called a blackhead, and when it is closed, it is called a whitehead. The whiteheads in adult acne are what cause the rupturing of the walls of the hair follicle. When this happens, redness, pustules, papules, and infection occur.
While it remains known that boys have a higher probability of having acne scars, it is also known that women have a higher probability of
adult acne. A common misconception is that adult acne is the result of inadequate hygiene. Unfortunately, it is not that easy. Both teen acne and adult acne are a result of hormones causing extreme oil buildup and a clogging of the pores containing the hair follicle. Because the flux of the problem lies in hormone fluctuations, women are more likely to have adult acne through the varying degrees of fluctuations that occur in their monthly cycle.
