Who Gets Acne The Most

Researches show that the majority of teenagers will experience acne to some degree. There are, however, other age groups who can also develop acne.

Impact of genetics

As with the majority of inherited skin disorders, the pattern for heritability of acne is not straightforward. However, research carried out on twins does suggest that the severity of acne at all ages and on all sites was influenced by genetic factors (Evans et al., 2005). Monozygotic twins were significantly more likely to have similar severity of acne than dizygotic twins.

Infantile acne

Whilst infantile acne is unusual, it can occur usually between 6 and 18 months. During the first year of life, both boys and girls produce androgens from their adrenal gland; in addition to this, boys also produce testosterone from their testes (this may explain why infantile acne seems more prevalent in boys). In a retrospective study of 29 patients with infantile acne, 24 were boys and 5 were girls. The same study saw a range of disease severity with 17 having superficial inflammatory lesions and 5 comedonal lesions; it was mild in 7, moderate in 18 and severe in 4. This study highlights the similarities between infantile and teenage acne and indeed the management was the same (although tetracyclines were not used as they should be avoided in children under 12). All responded to therapy, although 11 of the children required 24 months of treatment. In these instances, it is important that the parents and family receive support and reassurance that the lesions will resolve.

Acne in middle age

Although teenagers usually grow out of acne, for some it does persist into middle age, for others acne appears for the first time in middle age.