Postadolescent acne in women.

A low-grade, persistent acne is quite common in hard-working professional women in their twenties, thirties, and forties. Closed comedones are the dominant lesions, with a scattering of papulopustules. Premenstrual flares are typical. Most such patients passed through adolescence without acne. Acne cosmetica has to be ruled out. The latter is more inflammatory and the lesions are denser. It is postulated that chronic stress leads to enhanced secretion of adrenal androgens, resulting in sebaceous hyperplasia and subsequent induction of comedones. Postadolescent acne is an authentic variety of acne vulgaris; it responds well to treatment with conventional topical medicaments.