Acne can happen at any time in life though mostly associated to teenagers, some people can start having acne problems during their twenties or even older. Hormones also play a big role in acne, a high level of testosterone in the body can make acne worse, that's why teenagers often have acne more than any other age range.
Acne is caused when sebaceous glands produce excess sebum while at the same time dead skin cells at the pore opening aren't and and thus clog the follicle (see image above). At this stage it is a mild acne and can be cured with most over the counter medication.
For some people, it goes further where the sebum build up creates an ideal environment for a bacterium called Propionibacterium acnes, this bacteria is usually lives on the skin, but with the right conditions they start to grow. This is why people with oily skin are more prone to acne. On a last note about the causes, acne is not infectious. So, there's no way you can catch it from your friends.
For a more detailed explanation, here are all the main causes of Acne:
- Extra sebum. As explained earlier, sebum is normal and is needed for the skin to stay smooth but extra sebum can cause clogging and thus making a perfet environment for acne
-Hormones. This is the main reason why teenagers suffers most from acne, as during puberty the body begins to produce the hormone called androgens, the hormones that enlarges sebaceous glands which is a natural part of body development. This period of life can cause a hormonal imbalance where sebaceous glands can be overstimulated, this is also the reason why some women have acne during the menstrual cycle or sometimes during pregnancy.
-Bacteria. The bacterium Propionibacterium acnes is originally present on our skin, but with a good environement the bacterium will start to multiply very rapidly and thus creating a chemical reaction around the follicle which makes the skin red.
-Inflammation. The bacterium Propionibacterium acnes is mainly responble for skin inflammation, but can also be caused by any other unwanted bacteria which causes the skin to turn red while our body is trying to get rid of the bacteria.
One good news for acne sufferers is acne can be treated and there are many available treatments out there, it is just a matter of knowing which one is the best for your condition.
