Posts Tagged “teen acne”

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The short answer to the question ‘Who gets acne?’ is: nearly everyone sooner or later. But the breakdown of who and when is interesting and helpful.

Acne is a condition in which a skin pore becomes clogged as a result of excess dead skin cells and sebum, a natural skin oil, being unable to exit the follicle. That can lead to bacterial growth, rupture of the follicle wall and other circumstances that promote acne. Hormones called androgens are thought to be a major driver of the increase in sebum production.

Since it is during our teen years that hormone levels increase dramatically, it’s not surprising that acne shows up most prominently during this period. Acne typically develops in girls around age 11 and 13 in boys, reflecting the average age at which the two genders start puberty.

Once it develops, the incidence and severity is greater for males. Boys produce considerably more androgen hormones than females, and so they tend to develop more (and more severe) acne. Around 40% of teen acne is severe enough to warrant treatment by a dermatologist. Read the rest of this entry »

Acne isn’t a problem that magically disappears when you turn 20. Even though it’s thought of as a teen skin problem, many adults - in fact, most adults - suffer from at least occasional outbreaks of acne.The dermatology and beauty industries have taken notice of those blemishes over the past few years and are increasing the number of adult-acne products they offer. The ingredients aren’t that different from those in treatments aimed at teens, but manufacturers say adults are willing to spend more money even if they have fewer pimples.

Clinique last fall launched its Acne Solutions line, a three-step system similar to its classic skin-care sets, but containing anti-acne ingredients. Read the rest of this entry »