When Shakespeare's Lady Macbeth exclaims, "Out, damned spot", she may not have been referring to acne, but she neatly summed up how many of us feel when we see a pimple in the mirror.

Acne is a curse we hope to shake off once we leave our teens and aside from the occasional blemish, we usually do.

But research has found that women are now more susceptible to acne throughout their 20s and 30s and beyond even if they didn't suffer from it during adolescence.

The main culprit - stress.

The study from Nantes University Hospital in France found that women in high-flying, high-pressure jobs are most at risk, especially those who have to balance their career with looking after a family and home life.

Teens tend to get pimples erupting around the forehead, nose and chin, aka the T-zone.

Call them what you will, spots, acne, pimples, blemishes - they are caused by an excess of an oily substance called sebum released from tiny glands in the skin.

Sebum helps keep the skin moist and protected, but when bacteria get into the skin's pores, the glands become infected and blocked.

The pressure from the infection builds and forms a pus-filled bump on the skin - a pustule - more commonly known as a whitehead.

So how does stress cause acne in women?

It's believed that stress triggers production of the male hormone cortisol - also known as the stress hormone - which in turn increases the production of oil, blocking the pores.

While it can also happen to men, women are three times more likely to get adult acne because they're more sensitive to the male hormones released.

The problem with acne in older people is that it can be much harder to treat because it's deeper under the skin.

The study also found that 85 per cent of women had acne attacks just before and during their period.

There are theories that the old wives tale about oily or sugary food leading to acne could have an element of truth.

Foods with a high glycaemic index can increase production of acne-triggering hormones.

Aside from food, there's also smoking. Studies in the UK have found that women smokers are more prone to skin problems.

Nicotine can boost the production of sebum, but also deplete the skin of vitamin E, which is vital for skin repair.

It's a catch-22. If you find yourself retreating to comfort eating and smoking to relieve stress - neither of which are advised - you are likely to be adding to your skins woes.

Asian skin is more at risk. Due to a higher amount of skin pigmentation, there is more risk of scarring should the acne be left untreated, or worse when attempted to be solved via squeezing.

While the number of adult skin-care solutions have significantly risen, a doctor's advice should be sought to find the right solution.

This article was first published in The New Paper.