Why do some adults get acne?

Why do some adults get acne?

Spotty skin is a common plight for teenagers, but spots also follow some unlucky people into adulthood.


Asked by: Melissa Thompson, London

Almost everybody experiences at least some acne during adolescence but severe acne, and acne that persists into your twenties and thirties, tends to run in families. How much sunshine you get or how much fatty food you eat doesn’t make any difference. Whether the genetic link is because of oilier skin or different natural skin bacteria still isn’t clear.

Subscribe to BBC Focus magazine for fascinating new Q&As every month and follow @sciencefocusQA on Twitter for your daily dose of fun science facts.

© Getty Images