Adult female acne is increasingly recognised as a chronic inflammatory skin disorder affecting women well beyond adolescence. Hormonal fluctuation, inflammatory signalling, skin barrier impairment, and microbiome shifts contribute to its development and persistence. Perimenopause and menopause introduce further complexity due to declining oestrogen levels and relative androgen excess. This article provides an evidence-based overview of adult and menopausal acne, integrating epidemiology, underlying mechanisms, clinical presentation, assessment, management, and the crucial role nurses play in patient education, continuity of care, and multidisciplinary referral.
Hazel Parkinson (Wed,) studied this question.
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