Acne is often seen as something we leave behind in our teenage years \u2013 but for many, break-outs persist well into adulthood, often becoming even more frustrating in the process.<\/p>\n
Unlike adolescent acne, which tends to follow a more predictable pattern, adult acne can feel erratic, reactive, and harder to treat.<\/p>\n
Hormones, stress, lifestyle and well-tailored skincare can all play a role, say dermatologists and facialists, who share the secrets behind adult acne and how to treat it properly.<\/p>\n
While acne at any age shares the same basic biology, adult acne tends to behave differently, explains advanced facialist Mariam Abbas.<\/p>\n
\n \u201cAcne is more commonly categorised as inflammatory and non-inflammatory, rather than simply \u2018teenage\u2019 or \u2018adult\u2019 acne.\n <\/p>\n
\u201cThe basic physiology [\u2026] involves a blocked pore made up of excess sebum, dead skin cells and changes within the follicle,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
However, she notes that adult acne is typically \u201cmore complex\u201d, often appearing around the jawline, chin and lower face.<\/p>\n
From a clinical perspective, dermatologist and Dermatology M founder Dr Mazin Al-Khafaji describes adult acne as \u201cdeeper, more inflammatory, and more persistent,\u201d often with a chronic, relapsing nature.<\/p>\n
Cellular turnover also tends to be slower in adult skin, meaning breakouts can take longer to heal and are more likely to leave behind pigmentation.<\/p>\n
Adult acne rarely comes down to one single trigger, instead, it\u2019s usually a combination of internal and external factors.<\/p>\n
Hormones remain a key driver.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHormonal acne may be linked to the menstrual cycle, perimenopause or menopause,\u201d says Abbas, with fluctuations in oestrogen and androgens affecting oil production and inflammation.<\/p>\n
Aesthetician and skincare consultant Katharine Mackenzie Paterson, an ambassador for Korean skincare brand Haruharu Wonder, points to \u201cchanges in oestrogen, testosterone and progesterone\u201d as common culprits \u2013 particularly during life transitions like menopause.<\/p>\n
Stress is another major factor. Elevated cortisol levels can disrupt hormonal balance and increase inflammation, creating an environment where acne is more likely to develop.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot getting enough sleep, alcohol consumption and elevated stress levels from working lifestyles or running a home or family\u201d can all contribute, says Paterson.<\/p>\n
One of the biggest mistakes people make when dealing with adult acne is trying to do too much.<\/p>\n
\u201cAdults tend to have more access to skincare and aesthetic treatments,\u201d says Abbas, \u201cand using too many actives or overly aggressive products can compromise the skin barrier and perpetuate inflammation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Al-Khafaji warns that \u201charsh cleansing, excessive exfoliation and overuse of strong products can damage the skin and prolong the condition.\u201d So stripping the skin in an attempt to \u2018fix\u2019 it can actually make things worse.<\/p>\n
When it comes to treating adult acne, consistency and simplicity are key.<\/p>\n
\u201cCleansing is fundamental,\u201d says Paterson, who recommends double cleansing in the evening to properly remove make-up, SPF and pollution \u2013 particularly for those living in cities.<\/p>\n
After cleansing, hydration should be the focus. Paterson says lightweight products are ideal, especially for oilier skin types, helping to maintain moisture without overwhelming the skin.<\/p>\n
SPF is also essential. Not only does it protect the skin, but it also helps prevent post-inflammatory pigmentation from worsening, especially when combined with the brightening effects of vitamin C.<\/p>\n
From a treatment perspective, ingredients that support cell turnover and regulate oil production can be helpful, such as benzoyl peroxide and retinoids \u2013 but should be introduced gradually and used consistently.<\/p>\n
\u201cOver-treating the skin with multiple strong products, damaging the skin barrier through excessive cleansing or exfoliation, and changing treatments too frequently,\u201d are all pitfalls people can fall into, says Al-Khafaji.<\/p>\n
Another major issue is impatience. Acne takes time to improve, and constantly switching products can disrupt progress.<\/p>\n
\n Picking or squeezing spots is also a key mistake, he says, increasing the risk of scarring and prolonging inflammation.\n <\/p>\n
Importantly, many people focus only on topical treatments while ignoring internal factors, but \u201cdiet, stress, sleep and hormonal health all play a role,\u201d says Al-Khafaji and need to be considered as part of the bigger picture.<\/p>\n
Even once breakouts settle, post-inflammatory pigmentation such as red or brown marks left behind, is particularly common in adult skin due to slower healing.<\/p>\n
\u201cSupporting the skin\u2019s natural repair processes\u201d is key, says Al-Khafaji. Ingredients like bakuchiol and peptides can help stimulate collagen production and support regeneration, without the irritation often associated with stronger, chemical retinoids.<\/p>\n
However, deeper scarring \u2013 where the skin\u2019s structure has changed \u2013 may require professional treatment, or stronger vitamin As like prescription tretinoin.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Acne is often seen as something we leave behind in our teenage years \u2013 but for many, break-outs…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":463277,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[58299,61,60,80],"class_list":["post-463276","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-technology","tag-dr-michelle-o","tag-ie","tag-ireland","tag-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/463276","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=463276"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/463276\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/463277"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=463276"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=463276"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=463276"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}