Acne is for teenagers, right? Wrong! A common misconception is that acne only affects teenagers. The truth is that many adults struggle with acne even though they didn’t have acne as a teenager or may have had only a very mild case. This is typically known as Adult Onset Acne. For many other adults, their teenage acne has unfortunately followed them into their adulthood.
Although adults are usually better equipped to handle the physical, psychological and social effects of acne, it can be just as devastating to those afflicted. And current numbers are indicating that adult acne is increasing with no known attributing reason.
Regardless of whether the acne is a carryover from the teen years or new occurrence, it can be more difficult to treat and deal with. As an example, permanent acne scarring is often more severe in adults because the skin is older and has reduced amounts of collagen which is used for repairing itself. The physical scars of acne aren’t the only problem in adults.
The psychological scarring can be more pronounced in adults because of the misconceptions that accompanies adult acne. For many adults, having acne as a adult is more embarrassing that having it as a teenager because it was widely believed that only teenagers get acne. This is a very common misconception because acne can strike adults of any age. This has often led to adults not seeking treatment and causing deeper emotional issues.
The good news is that as more and more adults are seeking treatment, the problem of adult acne is gaining more attention and some of the misconceptions are being slowly erased.
Over-the-counter acne treatments and prescription medication sales have increased during that time frame also. Although inconclusive, it does suggest that adults with acne are seeking relief more often than before. It could also indicate that the number of cases is also on the rise as is expected.
At the same time, adult acne is reported to be on the rise as well. Physicians and dermatologists are starting to consider the special causes and unique effects of adult acne on older patients. As public awareness and the common misconceptions are put aside, more and more adults are likely to seek medical attention for which the profession needs to be ready.
Today, more and more information about adult acne is being captured which will only further help identify the causes and help treat those afflicted with adult onset acne. A new emphasis is being placed on the psychological effects of adult acne because of the social emphasis that is being placed on having clear skin. Of course, understanding the physical causes of acne is foremost because if you can cure the acne outbreaks then the social and psychological issues will usually take care of themselves.
