Why Do Humans Get Acne, and Is it Unique to Us? Here’s What to Know
It can happen when you’re a teenager and an adult, but no matter when acne appears, it can be stressful and make you self-conscious.
Although acne is largely a human-specific disease, dogs and cats can also develop forms of acne. Dogs get acne on their noses when bacteria builds up in hair follicles, cats can get acne on their chins, and there is evidence of acne-like conditions in other primates, according to the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine and Acne and rosacea from Plewig and Kligman.
When a pet’s hair follicle becomes clogged, it can cause acne, which can become irritated and cause the pet to scratch. And just like popping a pimple is bad for your skin, so is an animal’s coat.
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Why do humans suffer from acne?
Your epidermis is made up of millions and millions of skin cells, according to the Cleveland Clinic. It is the largest organ in the body and plays an important role in protecting your body from the outside world. As a result, your skin can sometimes take a hit.
Hair follicles, in particular, are an organ located on the dermal layer of the skin that allows hair to grow in response to a combination of hormonal activities. According to the Mayo Clinic, when hair follicles become clogged with old skin cells and sebum, acne results. Acne, especially common in adolescence, can appear as whiteheads, blackheads, pimples or, more painfully, larger bumps that appear under the skin.
“Adolescence is shaped by hormonal fluctuations,” says Tanya Kormeili, a dermatologist in Santa Monica. “This means that an increase in androgen hormones leads to an increase in sebum which feeds acne bacteria and can cause clogged pores.”
Kormeili adds that whiteheads are what you see under the skin and red spots are what you see above the skin when clogged pores become inflamed. Sebum is a natural oil produced by the sebaceous glands.
Adult acne is also the result of hormonal changes that can occur at different times of life, such as during pregnancy.
“Adult acne tends to appear along the lower face, jawline, and neck, and is often deeper and more inflammatory than adolescent acne,” says Anna Andrienko, a dermatologist at the Dr. Ducu Clinics in London, England. She adds that adult acne is likely to leave scars if not properly treated.
How to treat acne as a teenager or adult
This is the age-old question that can be so difficult to answer. What to do about acne before it gets out of control. Should you see a dermatologist or can acne be treated at home?
For teenagers, constantly taking care of your skin is essential. Wash your face twice a day with a gentle cleanser and avoid harsh products that can cause inflammation. Use products containing salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, or retinoids, all of which have been shown to help treat acne, says Andrienko.
And above all, “compression points should be avoided because this increases the risk of scarring,” adds Andrienko.
The main thing for the teenage group is to avoid the urge to pop your pimples, as difficult as it may be.
Treating acne in adults can be trickier than in teenagers. “Adult acne is typically seen in women when androgen and estrogen/progesterone levels change and create a similar imbalance,” says Andrienko.
Kormeili emphasizes that acne is a medical condition and seeing a dermatologist can make a big difference in results. “On the counter [salicylic] Benzoyl acid and peroxide can be a good choice for oily skin in teens with mild acne only, but can really wreak havoc on adult acne or people with dry skin,” she says.
For adults, dermatological treatments like deep extractions, chemical peels and cortisone injections, given to reduce inflammation, can all be very helpful in treating adult acne, according to the National Library of Medicine. It might also be helpful to address hormonal imbalances in adults that cause acne.
This article does not offer medical advice and should be used for informational purposes only.
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