Most people struggle through their teenage years to have clear skin in their adulthood. While for many people that struggle is worth the time and effort, for some it turns out to be a learning experience. These people realize that acne breakouts don’t necessarily end with your teenage years. Acne issues in adults is an increasingly common problem. Adult acne has seen a significant increase in the past couple of decades.

The condition has been observed to persist through the age of 50 until one reaches menopause. If you have suffered from acne during your teenage years, the most likely cause is oily skin that is susceptible to breakouts. However, even if you didn’t have acne as a teen, the occurrence of acne in adulthood is still a possibility. While the prospect of acne in adults sounds dreadful, knowing the cause behind it takes you a long way in treating the condition. Here are the most common causes of acne in adults:

1. Hormonal imbalance
Fluctuations in hormone secretion are the most common cause of acne in adults. This is especially true in the case of women. Women can experience acne right before the start of their menstrual cycle. Acne caused by hormonal changes is cystic in nature and causes pain. It is most likely to occur around your back, neck, or chin.

2. Stress
Stress can be an indirect cause of acne in adults. Stress leads to hormonal imbalance, which leads to the breakout of acne. Many people experience high levels of stress. When you feel stressed, the adrenal gland produces and releases the stress hormone called cortisol into your body. This cortisol is accompanied by small amounts of testosterone. This testosterone is not healthy, especially for women. In the case of a woman, this male hormone can cause oil glands to increase the production of oil. This, in turn, leads to acne breakouts.

3. Pollution
Air pollution creates a layer of dust and other pollutants on your face. This is especially true for people who live in a city and have jobs requiring travel. Even a walk for half-an-hour in a city is enough to cause acne breakouts in people with oily skin.

4. Use of misleading and incorrect products
It is recommended by skin care experts that people with oily skin and high susceptibility to acne breakouts use products marked “water-based”, “non-comedogenic”, or “oil-free”. If you get products that offer all three properties, nothing could be better. However, using a product with even one of these is assurance enough of good skin-care. It ensures that the lotion you are using is not clogging your pores and making things worse. It is also important to not overuse the right product. Overusing any skin care products can degrade your acne condition.