Adult acne, also referred to as post-adolescent acne, is acne which crops up after the age of 25. For the majority, similar factors that cause acne in teenagers are also responsible for adult acne.  The number of people getting this type of acne is rising and particularly in women. About 85 percent of women and about 15 percent of males are dealing with this acne.

Characteristics of adult acne

Mild adult acne might consist of whiteheads, blackheads, or tiny pustules. This acne in its moderate form may as well include papules, and these papules might cover a quarter to three quarters of your lower face or body. In its severe form, this acne often crops up with more excessive redness, irritation, swelling, and very deep cysts that cannot be drained. Rosacea is another condition which is often referred to as adult acne though it is different from the classic acne since the bumps usually are smaller in size, and they crop up at the same time in cycles.

Causes 

This type of acne is caused by various factors such as;

Hormones

Hormonal fluctuation in both women and men is a major cause of this type of acne because of the changes that they make in the whole body and the skin. This leads to inflammation, pH imbalance, circulation differences, or too much oil (sebum) production  

Stress and depression.

Emotional and physical stress makes your body to respond by producing cortisol, and in the process, the body produces some testosterone too. This activates too much production of sebum. As a result, your face might break out if you are going through a difficult time. When you are feeling pressured, scared, or anxious, the adrenal glands produce extra of the stress hormone called cortisol that usually causes an imbalance on the skin. However, this will calm down after your life is back to normal. People with migraines and allergies, as well as individuals who smoke, are more likely to be affected by this type of acne. 

Hairstyling and skincare products

Hair products, makeup, and skincare products are some factors that many people never consider. They make the pores clogged, leading to acne. Clogged pores get inflamed, and this results in pus, redness, and eventually whiteheads and blackheads along your hairline and the forehead.

Diet

Sugary foods are bad for your skin because they typically spike the insulin levels in your body, which triggers a surge in testosterone. At times your skin might react to certain foods by acne break out. For instance, there are certain people who are unknowingly intolerant to lactose, and this may possibly be the cause of their breakouts

Environment

Some environments are highly polluted, and this might lead to too much dirt that clogs the skin pores leading to flare-ups. This is the reason why it is always good to cleanse your skin before you go to bed. 

At times this acne runs in families; however, even if that is the case, there is still one or more than one trigger that causes the acne. Anybody can get it even in their 40's or beyond.