In a study published in the British Journal of Dermatology, sufferers recorded that it affected their quality of life to the same level that patients with conditions like epilepsy and diabetes had reported. "Having visible acne really affects people's self-esteem, daily functioning, work and relationships," he says.
None of this is news to health psychologist Dr Andrew Thompson, who studies the psychological impact of skin disease at Sheffield University. The British Skin Foundation recently surveyed over 2,000 adult sufferers and found 63% had lowered self-confidence, while 20% felt a relationship had ended due to their skin problems and a worrying 20% said they had even contemplated or attempted suicide. Of course, acne doesn't just affect how you look. Then, dead skin cells aren't shed properly and clog your pores, and the excess oil creates the ideal environment for acne bacteria to multiply, often causing inflammation." "This sends them into overdrive, pumping out too much oil. "Your glands may be more sensitive to male hormones, such as androgens," explains dermatologist Nick Lowe. And some people are simply unlucky and have overactive oil-producing glands.
"Having a close relative with acne increases your chance of suffering fourfold," says Dr Bunting. Hormones aside, other factors are also responsible. "It's wrong to think it's just puberty that causes skin problems, it's also premenstrual days, pregnancy, changes in hormone-based contraceptives, such as coming off the Pill, and even the menopause," says Dr Bunting.Īcne is also a feature of other female-only medical conditions, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) - an increasingly common condition, affecting up to 10% of UK women, which leads to unbalanced hormones and overactive sebaceous glands. It causes excess sebum production and a tendency for clogged pores. "It tends to be inflammatory, so while you may only have three to four spots, they're likely to be hard, stubborn nodules, and resolve much more slowly," adds Dr Bunting.īy this point in your life, it feels as though you should have your hormones under control, but women experience far greater fluctuations throughout their life than men, making us vulnerable for a longer period - because, whatever your age, hormonal change is still the biggest acne trigger. While teenage spots are most common on the oily T-zone (and this pattern continues if you have the persistent kind), adult-onset acne is usually seen on the cheeks, chin, jawline and neck, called the U-zone. "I'm definitely seeing more cases of the latter." "There are two main types: persistent acne that never really goes away from your teens, and late-onset acne that comes on after the age of 25," she explains. Cosmetic dermatologist and 'acneologist' Sam Bunting says 60% of her patients have adult acne and 90% of those are female.