November 21, 2007
Adult Acne - For Men
The good news for most adult men is that acne that first appears after age 20 is an unusual occurrence. I suppose the bad news is that if you're reading this, you're having just such an "unusual occurrence." In men with adult acne, lesions are more often seen on the chest and back. When it arises on the back, it's sometimes playfully called "backne." If you're a guy, and you're facing acne, odds are that one of several things is occurring:
- The teen version has stuck around: Though most acne vulgaris (teenage acne) clears up by the time you approach the 20 mark, it can stick around.
- You're an athlete: In recent years, acne is being seen increasingly on the chests and backs of men who participate in vigorous athletic activities. Some observers speculate that sweating and friction causes the acne because the primary sites are most often under clothing.
- You've used performance-enhancing drugs: Another, more likely, source of chest and back acne may result from the use of performance-enhancing preparations that contain such ingredients such as creatine, colostrum, and, of course, anabolic steroids such as testosterone and andro.
- You don't really have acne: If you have any doubt about your diagnosis, see a dermatologist because she may tell you that you don't have acne at all but may have rosacea, an adult acne look-alike, or folliculitis (an inflammation of hair follicles) due to shaving your face and maybe even from shaving your chest and back.
Significant scarring from acne is more common in men than in women. In men, lesions that leave scars may be the dominant type present, especially in men who had severe acne in their teens.
