Acne Q&A

What is Acne?

Acne is a skin condition that causes red bumps to develop on your face, body, or both. An inflammatory disorder, acne occurs when your skin’s sebaceous glands, which house the hair follicles, clog with oils, debris, and bacteria. This mixture forces sebum, an oily substance the sebaceous glands produce, to inflame the skin, leading to painful red lesions.

There are several types of acne that can affect your skin:

• Blackheads
• Whiteheads
• Papules
• Pustules
• Nodules
• Cysts

It’s possible to have more than one type of acne at a time, and the severity can vary greatly.

What can trigger acne?

While there are three primary causes of acne — too few skin cells shedding, high oil production, and bacteria — many things can trigger breakouts, including:

• Stress
• Hormonal imbalances (menstruation, menopause, pregnancy, etc.)
• Poor sleep quality
• Oily hair or skin care products
• High-glycemic foods (sweets, junk food, potatoes, etc.)
• Steroids, testosterone, estrogen, and other medications
• Humidity
• Excessive sweating

Trigger avoidance may not cure acne but can help prevent breakouts and promote clear, comfortable skin.

What age does acne go away?

Acne can last for several years and persist well into adulthood. Most people start getting acne during puberty when androgen hormones increase rapidly and stimulate oil production in the skin. While many experience less frequent breakouts once their hormones balance out in their 20s, others continue to have acne in their 30s and 40s.