- If you had acne as a teen, you can expect to see it again in adulthood.
- Changes to your daily skin-care routine can help.
- Carilion's Dermatology and Mohs Surgery team offers tips for self-care and when to see your physician.
Adult acne is common for women over age 25.
If you had acne as a teen, chances are you will experience it again. It may be in the form of continual breakouts or an unexpected recurrence years later.
According to Karla Guerra, D.O., a board-certified dermatologist with Carilion Clinic, you may develop adult acne even if you never experienced it as a teen.
“About 20% of women who have adult acne develop it for the first time as an adult,” she said.
Causes and Characteristics
Simply put, acne develops when pores become clogged.
The type of acne you experience depends on what clogs your pores. Breakouts from clogged pores may include a combination of whiteheads, blackheads, pimples or cysts.
Whiteheads form when excess oil and dead skin cells build up and plug the opening of a pore. This causes a blemish that is raised and white or flesh colored.
Many people mistakenly believe black specked breakouts are from visible dirt. According to experts at the American Academy of Dermatology, what you’re really seeing with blackheads is a chemical reaction.
Dr. Guerra compared it to the reaction of an apple to the air after it’s been cut.
“When the buildup inside the pore reacts with oxygen in the air, the black color appears,” she said.
Severe acne causes breakouts that often extend deep into the skin. Called cysts and nodules, these breakouts tend to be painful. When severe acne clears, acne scars often appear.
Self-Care for Adult Acne
To get the best results from your acne treatment, the team at Carilion Clinic Dermatology and Mohs Surgery recommends these tips:
Clean your skin.
Gently wash your face up to twice daily and after sweating. Choose a gentle, non-abrasive cleanser. Apply it with your fingertips, as scrubbing with washcloths, sponges, and other tools can irritate your skin.
Choose the right skin care.
Use gentle skin care products and ones that say “alcohol-free” on the label. Avoid products that can irritate your skin, including astringents, toners and exfoliants. These products can dry your skin and make acne appear worse.
Shampoo hair regularly.
The oil from your hair can cause acne on your forehead. If you have oily hair, shampoo more often than you do now and keep your hair away from your face.
Stick to a treatment.
Trying new acne treatments too often can irritate your skin and cause breakouts. Give your treatment time to work. It may take several weeks to few months before you see a difference.
Hands off.
Touching your face throughout the day can cause acne to flare. While it can be tempting to pick, pop, or squeeze your acne, doing so can:
- Prolong the healing process
- Increase your risk of scarring
- Result in dark spots (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation).
Stay out of the sun.
Along with increasing your risk for skin cancer, tanning damages your skin and can worsen acne. Some acne medications can also make your skin very sensitive to damaging ultraviolet rays from the sun.
When To Seek Medical Care
If a healthy skin-care routine isn’t enough, it’s time to see your primary care physician. They can identify or rule out any underlying causes, address infections and, if needed, refer you to a dermatologist.
Your primary care physician can also help you with the emotional impact of adult acne, which can result in a picking habit.
“Picking at breakouts can lead to more breakouts and eventual scarring,” said Dr. Guerra.
She emphasized the importance of choosing a board-certified dermatologist.
“A board-certified dermatologist can prescribe the right combination of treatments to minimize the risk of damage to your skin while successfully treating existing acne and preventing new breakouts from forming."
