Many of us have struggled with those ugly zits when we were in our teens, runing our self esteem and confidence with the opposite sex. For some guys however acne doesn't stop when they reach their 20's. Around 1 in 100 men in their 40's have outbreaks on the back, chest and face. Whiteheads and small pimple may also continue to appear throughout life depending upon factors like oily skin, illness and stress.

Acne is caused by sebum (an oily gunk made by sebaceous glands in your skin) plug up the pores around your hair follicles. This causes bacteria to grow resulting in the pres becoming inflamed and infected. It is thought that the increase in sebum is lniked to the surge in the production of male hormones, a reason why boys suffer from it more than girls.

The theory that eating certain foods such as chocolate, sweets and chips can cause acne is unfounded. Several studies have shown no connection between eating these types of food and an outbreak of spots or pimples.

It is advisable to see your doctor if you get severe acne. You may be prescribed antibiotics which will attack the infection. These don't always work though and it may be a case of trial and error to see which works best for you. Some antibiotics can be disruptive to your daily routine and it will be up to you whether you see the disruption as worth it in the long run. Your doctor may refer you to a dermatologist who may prescribe stronger antibiotics if they think it will help. Some of these can have side effects so you are monitered closely.

We know how spots and acne can affect a persons confidence so if one method doesn't work for you do try something else but don't let it affect your daily life too much. We would recommend keeping your skin as clean as possible and get into a daily cleansing routine with products you feel suit your skin. Resist the temptation to squeeze spots which usually make the infection worse.

One of the guys here at Razor Sharp Male occasionally gets lumps which are somtimes caused by ingrown hairs and sometimes just plain old acne...and he is in his 40's! He has found a skin care routine which suits his skin and keeps the problem to a minimum. One products he does recommend is the 4VOO Repairing After Shave Balm which he feels has definitely reduced the lumps to the odd occasion rather than one appearing every fortnight. It may be worth a try!