ADULT ACNE BASICS

As an adult, you face new and different challenges, but acne should not be one of them. Whether your acne from your teen years has remained, or you are just beginning to find yourself troubled with acne, there are some things about acne you should know. Read on to Take Charge of your life and tackle this challenge face-to-face.

Acne Facts

Acne can include:
- Whiteheads – if a pore gets clogged up and closes.
- Blackheads – if a pore clogs, but stays open.
- Pimples – where sebum, bacteria and dead skin cells get under the skin, causing a small, red infection.
- In some people, cysts – deep, painful and inflamed bumps.
Acne most commonly pops up on the face, but the back, chest, shoulders and neck can break out too.
Some people continue to break out into their 20s, 30s and even beyond.
Severe acne can scar your skin.
Acne can pack an emotional punch. Read about the emotional impact of acne.

The Life Cycle of Acne

What Causes Acne?

First of all, let’s dispel some acne myths: People do not get acne from eating chocolate or greasy food, from using makeup, or from not washing their face enough. The truth is, no one knows exactly what causes acne. Hormones and bacteria have something to do with it, and if your parents had acne, you might have inherited it from them. Here’s a step-by-step glimpse into the development of a zit.

Hormones Surge

Androgens (a type of hormone) surge, especially during stressful situations and menstrual cycles.
These androgens stimulate the sebaceous glands, leading to more sebum (oil) and potentially more acne.

Pores Get Clogged

Skin cells are shed from the lining of the hair follicle.
These skin cells stick together with sebum produced by sebaceous glands.
A plug forms below the surface of the skin.
Like magic – a pore is clogged.

Your Body Fights Back

The sebum and skin cells clogging pores contribute to the growth of bacteria that live in pores.
Specialized immune system cells invade the follicle to clean it up.

Breakout Woes

When immune cells join in, the wall of the follicle may get weak and rupture.
The contents of the follicle invade surrounding tissue.
Swelling and redness develop around the tissue. A pimple is born.

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Important Safety Information
During treatment with Differin^® 0.1% dryness, erythema, burning or pruritus can occur. These side effects differ in frequency depending on the formulation used of Differin^® 0.1% (cream vs. gel). During treatment with Differin^® Gel 0.3% signs of cutaneous irritation like redness, scaling, dryness and/or stinging/burning may occur, but should be mild or moderate, occur early in treatment and decrease thereafter. Other side effects that may occur from using Differin^® Gel 0.3% include skin discomfort, pruritus and sunburn.

Concomitant use of potentially irritating products or overexposure to sunlight or sunlamps, extreme wind or cold, may increase the potential for irritation from both product concentrations. Use of sunscreen and protective clothing is recommended.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088