People of all ages get acne, but it is most common in adolescents. Nearly 85 percent of adolescents and young adults between the ages of 12 and 24 develop the disorder. People of all races can have acne, but it is more common among Caucasians. For some, however, acne is more serious. Acne affects young men and young women about equally, but there are differences.
Young men are more likely than young women to have more severe, longer lasting forms of acne.
Despite this fact, young men are less likely than young women to visit a dermatologist for their acne. In contrast, young women are more likely to have intermittent acne due to hormonal changes associated with their menstrual cycle and acne caused by cosmetics. These kinds of acne may afflict young women well into adulthood. In non-inflammatory acne, there are usually just a few whiteheads and blackheads on the face. The majority of people with acne have this type.