On average, Toronto dermatologist Sandy Skotnicki said she sees more adult women, 25 years and older, than teens with acne problems.
"It's an epidemic," said the owner and medical director of Bay Dermatology Centre in Toronto. "Adult acne in women is so common."
And because so many women have acne problems there are so many acne and skin-care products available with some costing hundreds of dollars.
The question becomes why it is so common?
Skotnicki said while acne genetic, it's also largely hormone driven, which is why women will often get a pimple or two before and after their period.
Pregnant women will sometimes get acne because their hormones are on overdrive, and same goes for pre-menopausal and menopausal women who are losing estrogen and their testosterone is going up.
"We treat that type of acne with hormonal therapies like the birth control pill or pills that alter the level of testosterone in their bodies," she said.
Skotnicki said stress also causes hormonal changes, which in turn makes you more prone to getting pimples.
While teenage boys also get acne due to rampant hormonal activity, Skotnicki said there isn't as much adult acne in men.
"A lot of men are very lucky because when they grow out of their acne, that's it, they're done," she said. "Men...have really bad acne that needs to be treated, but they don't have the mild stuff that just happens."