A survey of over 1,000 adults revealed that acne is more prevalent in women than in men, according to researchers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. The study, led by Julie C. Harper, MD, FAAD, surveyed a random sample of participants over the age of 20 in order to assess the prevalence of persistent and adult onset acne.

According to survey results, nearly three-quarters (73 percent) of respondents from the University of Alabama at Birmingham campus and medical complex stated that they had dealt with acne at one point or another, with a majority stating that time had been during their teenage years. Nearly the same number of men (68.5 percent) as women (66.8 percent) reported that acne affected them during their adolescence.

“Although acne is one of the most common skin diseases, there is a general misconception that it only affects teenagers,” explained Harper in a public statement. “As dermatologists, we treat acne patients of all ages—from those who have experienced acne since they were teenagers to others who have developed the condition for the first time as adults. Our study set out to determine just how common acne is among adult men and women.”

The survey showed that as men and women age, the numbers of women experiencing acne remain higher than that of men, with the gap between the sexes widening as they age. In their 20’s just over half of women (50.9 percent) state they suffer from acne, versus 42.5 percent of men. Of participants in their 30’s, just over a third of women (35.2 percent) versus one-fifth of men (20.1 percent), experience acne. Participants in their 40’s also reported bouts with acne, with slightly over one-quarter of women (26.3 percent) and just over 1 in 10 men (12 percent) battling the bumps. Participants in their 50’s and older, as expected, reported the lowest prevalence of acne, with women still “winning” with 15.3 percent of females, versus roughly half that number of males (7.3 percent). The numbers indicate that women experience less acne with age, but still more than their male counterparts.

“Our findings demonstrate that acne is a persistent problem for people of all ages, but clearly women seem to be affected by this medical condition more than men when we examined the 20-plus age groups,” said Harper in a press release. “Research examining the role hormones play in the development of acne may hold the key to explaining why more adult women are affected by acne and could lead to future treatments to control this condition.”

Some doctors may disagree with the study’s conclusion that there is a difference in prevalence between the sexes, citing that acne’s emotional impact may be harder on women than men, leading them to over report their skin maladies, especially as adult acne tends to be milder than adolescent acne. “They probably ‘suffer more,’ but the incidence is equal. Women of course tend to be bothered more about aesthetics than men, in general,” says MA-based obstetrician and gynecologist Dave E. David, M.D.

David tells demo dirt that because hormones are the culprit, acne would favor attacking men over women. “Mainly it has to do with the amount of testosterone, and actually, men have more, of course, so they tend to have more acne and oily skin, but women, when they do get it are much more devastated by it.”

Harper, formerly affiliated with the University of Alabama, was unavailable for comment.