The awkwardness, the anxiety, the acne — these are things from your youth you’d rather not revisit. Unfortunately, acne can follow you into adulthood — nearly half of adult women and 15% of adult men report some degree of adult acne.
At our dermatology practice, skincare experts Dr. Daphne Panagotacos and Stephanie Porter, DNP, have extensive experience helping patients of all ages clear away problematic acne.
Here’s a look at how acne can still plague you as an adult, and more importantly, how we can help restore your skin.
Why adult acne?
One of the primary reasons why acne affects preteens and teens is because of hormonal changes in their bodies, namely an increase in androgens. This hormone stimulates sebum (oil) production in your skin, which leaves you more vulnerable to accumulating dead skin cells and debris in your pores.
Even though your hormones may not be on the same roller coaster ride as they were through puberty, adult acne occurs for the same reasons as it did when you were younger:
- Excess oil production in your skin
- Pores clogged with dead skin cells
- Bacteria
- Inflammation
One of the reasons why women are more susceptible to adult acne is because they still experience fairly meaningful hormonal changes with every menstrual cycle. As well, skincare products and makeup can exacerbate the problem by clogging your pores.
For both men and women, if your diet is one that leads to system-wide inflammation in your body, you may be more likely to develop adult acne.
Last, but certainly not least, stress can play a role in the development of adult acne as it increases cortisol levels in your body, which affects the health of your skin.
Treating adult acne
Since adult acne isn’t typically all that different from teenage acne, the treatments we offer are largely the same and include:
- Acne facials that include professional extractions
- Advanced laser technologies
- Chemical peels
- Cortisone injections
- Retinoids
- Antibiotics for infection
- Salicylic acid products
For women, we may also recommend hormonal contraceptives that better regulate your hormone levels for improved skin health.
The treatment we recommend for you depends upon the severity of the acne and your unique circumstances. For example, if you’re experiencing acne during a pregnancy, we can find gentle ways to treat your skin. On the other hand, if you have aggressive acne in your late 20s or early 30s, we can take correspondingly aggressive measures, such as hormonal regulation, antibiotics, and cortisone injections.
The good news is that if you stay one step ahead of your adult acne through our many treatments, the problem tends to lessen with age. In other words, freedom from acne does come, but it may not be until you’re much older. In the meantime, we can help keep your skin in the pink of health.
If you’d like to learn more about your treatment options for adult acne, please contact our office in Westlake Village, California, to set up a consultation.
