An estimated 30% of women age 20 to 60, and 20% of men in the same age group deal with adult acne, and adults can develop acne even if they didn’t have a problem with it during adolescence. A survey by dermatologists with the University of Alabama-Birmingham found the following breakdown of acne prevalence in adults by age group:
- 20s: 50.9% of women, 42.5% of men
- 30s: 35.2% of women, 20.1% of men
- 40s: 26.3% of women, 12% of men
- 50s: 15.3% of women, 7.3% of men
Adult acne is more common in women, and dermatologists believe that this is because acne flare-ups can be triggered by hormonal shifts. Women experience changing hormonal levels due to menstrual cycles, and when they reach middle age, hormone levels shift with the approach of menopause. In men and women, adult acne differs from the acne that adolescents get.
How Adult Acne Differs from Acne in Adolescence
In adolescents, acne tends to appear as multiple, small blemishes, including blackheads, whiteheads, and pimples. They are common on the forehead, and may occur on the back or chest. According to dermatologist Amy Derick, MD, the skin of teenagers is stickier, and their pores are more likely to clog. With adults, however, breakouts are more common around the mouth, chin, and jawline, and often consists of fewer, deeper pimples. But adult acne can be treated successfully. Trying the same treatments you may have used in your teens may not work, however, because many of these treatments irritate adult skin. Here are 5 ways to treat adult acne.
1. Consider your skin type before choosing treatment products. Your skin is almost certainly drier than it was when you were an adolescent, and many adults have sensitive skin. Generally, adults need gentler cleansers and non-alcohol toners, and they need to avoid harsh products and scrubs.
3. If you eat a lot of fatty foods, consider reducing the fat content of your diet. While the idea that junk food and fried foods cause acne is considered a myth, cutting excess fats and eating foods rich in antioxidants (like fresh fruits and vegetables) benefits your overall health, including the health of your skin, according to Clare A. Pipkin, MD, assistant professor of medicine at Duke University School of Medicine.
4. Use a gentle acne wash twice every day (once a day if your skin is dry or sensitive). You can treat breakouts topically with a thin layer of an acne treatment lotion containing 0.5 to 2% salicylic acid applied at night. This routine may take a couple of weeks to show results, but be patient. If salicylic acid medication irritates your skin, try using a retinoid cream instead. It helps your skin shed dead cells to reduce the chances of clogging pores.
5. Consider prescription medications for your adult acne. Topical antibiotics like Metrogel are designed for adult skin. This medication kills bacteria and reduces inflammation in the skin without drying it out like many of the teen-focused acne treatments do.
Finally, while you should give your over-the-counter skin care routine a couple of weeks to work, if you’re not getting results, then prescription medications may be necessary to effectively treat your adult acne. The sooner you are able to effectively address adult acne, the less likely you will have to deal with scarring or dark marks on the skin where breakouts have occurred.
At eDrugstore.com, we offer skin care products like Metrogel for treatment of adult acne. These products are dispensed by US-licensed pharmacists and are shipped quickly so you don’t have to wait to begin dealing with your acne. eDrugstore.com is committed to the highest standards of online privacy and customer confidentiality, and is proud of its track record of superior customer service.
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