Adult Acne: Causes and Treatment Options

Acne is the eighth most prevalent skin condition in the world and is mostly associated with teenagers experiencing hormonal changes. Many people assume that acne is purely just an adolescent issue, but this is incorrect. Many adults experience acne and feel embarrassed about it because of its teenage connotations, but it’s actually a very common issue.

Acne Support, a leading resource compiled by the British Association of Dermatologists, found that 19% of people over the age of 25 reported suffering from adult acne in the UK. What’s more, 34% of people admit to not knowing which acne treatments work or are even safe.

If you’re dealing with spots and want to learn more about adult acne causes and treatment, keep reading for reliable, professional advice.

Types of acne 

Firstly, it’s important to understand the different types of adult acne as the severity of the problem will dictate the treatment.

Mild acne is extremely common and entails small pustules (white, pus-filled bumps with redness around them), whiteheads, and blackheads. Sufferers of mild acne tend to have occasional but minor breakouts that don’t cause widespread redness or inflammation.

Moderate acne also involves pustules, whiteheads, and blackheads, but you might also find you have papules (raised areas of skin 1cm or less in size). For your acne to be considered moderate, it needs to cover over a quarter of your face or your body.

Severe adult acne is very painful and involves the skin becoming extremely irritated. Typically speaking, there will be large, deep cysts, and the acne can cover as much as three-quarters of your body or face.

What causes adult acne?

Adult acne is no different from adolescent acne in its cause. When pores get clogged with oil, spots may appear. There are a number of factors that can influence someone’s chances of developing acne, with family history being one. If you have a relative who has suffered from acne at any stage in their life, including distant relatives, you may be more likely to suffer from it.

Hormonal changes are a leading cause of adult acne. The menstrual cycle can cause hormones to fluctuate, meaning women are more likely to suffer from acne as adults. Sometimes, hormonal imbalances cause adult acne, but hormonal spots tend to be easy to identify due to the fact they’ll appear that time of the month, usually around the mouth, and they’ll often be cyst-like and painful.

It’s important to know that acne isn’t a direct sign of a hormonal imbalance; sometimes, the skin just doesn’t react well to hormonal changes.

Products that are high in oil, like face creams and moisturisers, can cause the pores to get clogged more easily and contribute to acne, although they would have to be really oily or comedogenic.

Stress can cause cortisol levels to increase and more sebum to be produced, and too much sebum can block the pores and cause spots. Physical stress can also contribute to acne, with things like dehydration and pollution being potential causes.

There are lots of misconceptions about what causes adult acne, with unhealthy foods often getting the blame. There is no evidence to suggest diet has an impact on the skin. Eating salads every day won’t make you immune from spots, and eating chocolate cake won’t give you acne. It’s recommended to eat a balanced diet for a myriad of health reasons, but do remember that doing so will have no impact on your skin.

How to treat adult acne 

The biggest question people want to know is how to clear up adult acne. How to get rid of adult acne largely depends on the cause. Lots of people rely on home remedies, but these can sometimes do more harm than good.

If you are suffering from moderate to severe acne, it’s recommended that you see a dermatologist so they can identify the cause and come up with an effective treatment plan. This may include taking prescription medication or using topical creams.

There is a range of over-the-counter remedies that can help to clean your skin, but oftentimes they’re not strong enough to deal with actual acne.

In this instance, SkinAddict supplies a wide range of treatments that are stronger than those available over the counter but that don’t require a prescription, allowing you to treat your acne at home in a clinically-proven way.

Best products for adult acne 

What works for one person may not work for another, but we stock a wide of products and are on hand to help you find the right one for you. For example, the Obagi Retinol is an effective way of keeping acne at bay, whilst the Environ Botanical Infused Sebu-Wash Gel Cleanser is great for removing dirt from the skin and keeping pores clear.

You can shop our full range of products and treatments for acne and congestion online, but if you need help choosing the right products for your skin, please contact us, and we’ll be able to help.