Adult acne is treatable

Have you ever looked in the mirror and declared, “I should not have wrinkles and spots on the same face!” If so you’re not alone. Acne: it isn’t just for teenagers. In fact, many people are plagued by adult acne into their thirties, forties and even fifties.

According to a survey done by US dermatologists (skin specialists) at the University of Alabama:

• In their twenties, 50.9% of women and 42.5% of men reported experiencing adult acne
• In their thirties, 35.2% of women and 20.1% of men reported adult acne
• In their forties, 26.3% of women and 12% of men reported experiencing acne
• In their fifties, 15.3% of women and 7.3% of men reported experiencing acne

You may have noticed something about those numbers - they’re much higher in women than in men. That is probably because at any age, acne is hormonally related, and the fluctuations of a woman’s cycle can trigger breakouts.

How does adult acne differ from teen acne?

Adult acne differs markedly from the spots of your teenage years, both in how it appears and how it’s treated.

“In teens, you’ll mostly see hundreds or thousands of tiny bumps, blackheads or whiteheads on the skin of the face, especially the forehead, along with occasional cysts on the chest and back,” says Dr Amy Derick, a fellow at an academy of dermatology. “That’s because teens’ skin tends to be a little stickier and they’re more likely than adults to get clogged pores.”

In adults, acne is more likely to appear on the lower part of the face, especially around the mouth and jawline. “It’s usually deeper nodules or red papules in those areas,” Derick says. “The fine little bumps of teen acne can still happen in adulthood, but it’s much less common.”

What can adults do about acne?

If you’re troubled by more than the occasional breakout, don’t try to treat yourself with the same products aimed at teenagers.

“Most of the over-the-counter products involve salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide, which are good for whiteheads and pustules, but not so much for deeper adult acne,” Derick says.

Talk to your doctor about prescription treatments. Your doctor may recommend one treatment, or suggest combining a cream with an oral medication.

You have several options:

• Prescription creams containing retinoids (derived from vitamin A) to help unplug follicles.
• Combination creams that combine the cleansing agent benzoyl peroxide and antibiotics such as clindamycin.
• Oral contraceptives, which can regulate the hormonal fluctuations that spark breakouts.
• Oral antibiotics, which act as anti-inflammatories.

 “We usually try to incorporate some type of retinoid into the mix,” Derick says. “They keep the pores clear and the skin exfoliated, and they also help with wrinkles.”