The Causes of Adult Acne and Effective Adult Acne Treatment

Suffering acne when you are an adult is just as uncomfortable as when you were a teenager. The reality is that acne also affects adults.

In fact, a large number of people seek adult acne treatment because adult acne can be a little more difficult to cure as it usually affects deeper tissue.

Adult Acne Treatment – Effective Remedies To Treat Acne

While it is frustrating to suffer from acne as an adult, you are not the only one to experience adult acne. In reality, adult acne does occur more frequently than you think. We hope to help you get a clearer picture of acne and what possible adult acne treatment you can use.

Causes of Adult Acne

If you are thinking that adult acne is the result of poor hygiene, it’s not exactly true. Far too many factors contribute to why you are suffering from adult acne, not just lousy hygiene. Acne, whether as an adult or teenager, is caused by several factors:

  • Stress
  • Hygiene
  • Diet
  • Hormonal imbalance

All these can lead to excessive production of oil in your skin that leads to blockage of your pores, trapping dirt and other irritants which then lead to an acne infection.

How Many Adults Suffer From Acne?

I picked this up from a survey done by dermatologists from the University of Alabama-Birmingham. It seems to be one that is often quoted regarding the occurrence of adult acne. Here are the statistics:

  • 50.9% of women and 42.5% of men experience adult acne in their 20s
  • 32.2% of women and 20.1% of men in their 30s
  • The numbers drop to 26.3% of women and 12% of men in their 40s
  • And in their 50s, the number ranges around 15.3% of women and 7.3% of men suffer from adult acne.

If you look at the numbers, it shows that more women than men suffer from acne across the ages. This is explained by the fluctuation of women’s hormones which causes adult acne to break out more erratically than men.

It’s a huge number, but more than half of all adult women appear to suffer adult acne at least occasionally. And when does this breakout tend to occur? Between 60%-70% of women will experience acne pre-menstruation. While adult acne, whether for male or female, can be effectively treated when you know what steps to take.

The Difference Between Adult Acne and Teenage Acne

Is there a difference between adult acne and the type of acne that teenagers suffer? As a teenager, what you will observe is that acne shows up as hundreds of tiny little bumps, blackheads or whiteheads on the face. Usually appearing on the forehead, it can also sometimes appear on the chest and back (back acne treatment).

For adults, however, you will notice that acne tends to appear more often around the mouth and jawline. Acne in this area tends to appear as deeper nodules or red papules, unlike the tiny little bumps that you see appearing for teenagers. This doesn’t mean that you won’t see teen acne appearing in adults. It’s just less likely and less common.

Treating Adult Acne Effectively

There are a few treatments for adult acne. In most cases, adult acne treatment is the same as how you would treat acne for teenagers. However, adult skin does tend to be drier than teenage skin and requires a gentler touch.

The best acne treatment for adults really depends on what type of acne you have. If you are not sure, it just may be worth your effort to see a dermatologist to get their advice on what the best medication is for your condition.

  • Azelaic acid cream
  • Birth control pills for women (helps to control hormonal fluctuations)
  • Alpha-hydroxy acids (including glycolic acid, lactic acid, and gluconic acid)
  • Antibiotic pills (make sure to finish the course of antibiotics)
  • Benzoyl peroxide
  • Topical antibiotics (gels, lotions, and solutions)
  • Accutane or Sotret for severe acne (May cause birth defects although very effective)

One big breakthrough in adult acne treatment is a new slow-release form of topical retinoic acid (a form of vitamin A). With the slow release, it greatly reduces the skin irritation that using older versions of this medication can cause.

Tip: If you are someone who uses skin lotions or sunscreens, make sure to check that the current ones you are using are oil-free and non-comedogenic.

Some Tips On Adult Acne Treatment And Other Suggestions

Regardless of whichever adult acne treatment you may use, make sure to carefully research your choice as some options like hormonal treatments do come with side effects.  When you wash your face, do it gently about twice a day rather than washing your face every other hour.

There are several adult acne treatment options available and many others have cleared their acne for clear skin. However, if you are worried about possible acne scarring because of the severity of your breakout, then it might just be best to see a doctor on what you can do to prevent it.