What Causes Acne in Adult Females?

Causes of Adult Acne

After the hormonal changes of adolescence, some adult women continue to suffer from acne. This can be attributed to many things, including the bacteria present on a woman's skin, behaviors and the products that a woman uses.

Makeup and Acne

For many women, wearing makeup can cause outbreaks of acne. Makeup, especially foundation, can clog the pores and cause bacteria that are present on the skin and in the pores to begin filling those pores with puss. This creates acne that only gets worse as the woman tries to cover it with more foundation. For some women, old makeup is the culprit. As a woman touches her face and then her makeup, she introduces her facial bacteria into the makeup, which then breeds if the makeup is moist. Foundation and liquid eye makeup are especially prone to bacterial growth. Applying that makeup to the face then causes acne as the bacteria clog the pores and create blemishes.

Skin Oils

One of the major causes of acne is the natural oils on the skin. These oils should be washed away at least twice a day to prevent them from clogging the pores. When this cleansing is not performed or is performed incorrectly, the oil can trap dirt and debris, clog the pores and create a growth of bacteria in the pores and hair follicles of the face. Many women simply don't have the time for a long facial cleansing regimen two or more times a day, and the result is adult acne.

Facial Touching

One of the behaviors that can cause acne is touching the face with the fingertips. This brings the dirtiest part of the body, the hands, in contact with the skin of the face. Once this bacteria from the fingers is introduced to the face, acne can result.

Moisturizers

Because adult women usually have some worry about wrinkles or fine lines on their faces, many of them apply moisturizers to their faces. Moisturizers are made to trap the body's oil onto the skin to prevent it from drying out. Unfortunately, this keeps the oil in a thick layer over the skin, clogging the pores. Moisturizers, especially those that contain oil, can cause acne in women by coating their pores in oil.