You may be one of the women who escapes teenage acne only to wake up in your thirties and discover you have blemishes. Acne is not just a problem for teenagers, but can also be a concern for adults. This issue is one of the most common skin disorders in the United States, affecting 17 million people. Adult acne can start in your twenties and last until your forties.

The underlying cause is the same for both adult acne and teenage acne. Acne is caused by bacteria, oil, and debris becoming trapped in the pores due to the surplus of the androgen hormones. Although the underlying cause is similar, there are subtle differences between teenage and adult acne. That means the treatment for adult acne is often different than that for teenage acne. Also, because adults have more sensitive skin due to aging, it is important to treat your skin with appropriate products that aren’t formulated for teenagers.

This article will discuss:

• Teenage Acne vs. Adult Acne
• Adult Acne Treatment

Teenage Acne vs. Adult Acne

The pores in your skin contain sebaceous glands (also called oil glands). These glands make sebum, which is an oil that lubricates your skin. When the sebaceous gland produces an excess amount of oil because of the hyperactivity of androgen hormones, this oil can mix with debris and skin cells. This causes pores to become clogged. Bacteria begins to build up in the pores, causing them to swell and redden. These clogs are what we commonly recognize as acne.

Adult acne and teenage acne have a few factors in common. First, they can both be caused by androgen hormone imbalance. Second, they can both manifest as several types of acne blemishes such as blackheads, whiteheads, pustules, and cystic acne. Although there are similarities between adult acne and teenage acne, there are also some differences that are important to understand in order to find the best treatment for you.

Teenage acne:

• Is found at the t-zones.
• Can be treated with over-the-counter products.
• Is caused by a hormone imbalance.
• Can take the form of several types of acne blemishes, including blackheads, whiteheads, pustules, and cystic acne.
• Acne suffers typically have oily skin.

Adult acne:

• Usually found on the lower part of the face and chin.
• Is often more difficult to treat with over-the-counter products.
• Is frequently made worse by stress as well as hormone imbalances.
• Can take the form of rosacea in addition to blackheads, whiteheads, pustules, and cystic acne.
• Acne suffers may have dry or oily skin.

Although teenage and adult acne can both be caused by a hormone imbalance, the cause of this imbalance differs in teenagers and adults. Women’s hormones tend to fluctuate during menstruation, pregnancy or menopause. During these times there is a surplus of androgens, the male hormones present in both men and women that contribute to oil production and clogged pores.

Similar to adults, teenagers have hormone imbalance that causes acne. However, the hormone imbalance is due to puberty. During puberty, an excess of androgen hormones are released and are responsible for the appearance of acne. For many people, when puberty ends, their hormones become more balanced and the acne goes away.

Adult Acne Treatment

It’s important to understand that adult acne should not be treated the same as teenage acne because of the differences mentioned above. Most over-the-counter acne treatments cater to teenagers’ oily skin. Because adult skin can be oily or dry, you should choose the products you treat your acne with carefully. It’s best to treat your skin with products specifically marketed to adult consumers. Using harsh products can cause further skin irritation worsen your acne condition.

Even if you have oily skin, using teenage acne products, such as those containing benzoyl peroxide, can cause your skin to age more quickly. This is because these products may create damaging free radicals. In addition, benzoyl peroxide can be very drying and irritating, especially on more fragile adult skin. This can also make skin look older. Instead, adult acne sufferers should use gentle products that help fight acne and treat the signs of aging, something that teenage acne treatments don’t factor in.

Prescribed Hormonal Treatments

Adult acne is often treated by prescribed hormonal medications such as birth control pills. Oral contraceptive pills can reduce the amount of the androgen testosterone within the body, improving hormonal breakouts. By suppressing the production of testosterone, the amount of oil produced by the sebaceous glands is decreased, reducing pore blockage.

Stress Relief

Since stress can be a cause of acne, anything that reduces stress can also improve acne. Taking yoga classes is a great way to relieve your body of stress. Yoga also increases blood flow to your face to flush away toxins and supply nutrients to your skin. Other ways to relax include meditation, exercise, walking, deep breathing. Anything you find relaxing is a great way to reduce stress levels and help your adult acne.

Change of Diet

Another effective way to treat acne is by changing your diet. The food you consume can affect your acne. Because inflammation, redness, and swelling are characteristic of acne, Dr. Perricone recommends anti-inflammatory recipes to help control inflammation throughout your entire body.

If you avoid pro-inflammatory foods and eat more anti-inflammatory foods, this will help your acne subside and aid in healing your skin. Anti-inflammatory foods are typically high in antioxidants, healthy fats, and whole grains. They include things like fish, fruits, vegetables, and grains like oatmeal.

Another treatment that can reduce adult acne is Perricone Skin Clear Supplements. This dietary supplement helps clear up blemishes and prevents them from resurfacing. In addition to enhancing skin clearness, these supplements also support a healthy immune system, and provide both antioxidant protection and anti-aging benefits.

Adult Acne Skin Care Products

The ingredients used for teenage acne products often differ from found in adult acne treatments. Instead of benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid is commonly used to treat adult acne. This key ingredient is very affective at reducing excess sebum and unclogging pores. It also encourages the shedding of dead skin cells, which helps the the pores stay clear of cellular debris. When your pores are clear of bacteria and dead skin cells, this helps reduce blockage and breakouts.

The Perricone Skin Clear line uses salicylic acid as major ingredient to fight acne. By using a product like the Skin Clear Acne Toner, you can both clear blemishes, as well as help prevent new blemishes from forming. The Skin Clear Acne Toner now has new Perricone discounts to save you money on your order. This product also contains Alpha Lipoic Acid refine skin texture and pore size, while also helping to eliminate fine lines and discoloration. The addition of eucalyptus oil calms inflammation and eliminates bacteria.

These kinds of beneficial ingredients to fight aging and care for skin are what differentiate adult acne treatments from those for teenagers. They are are more gentle, hydrating products that ensure your skin will not become dry and irritated, two factors that can make acne worse. In addition, Perricone’s adult acne products contain ingredients that work everyday to fight the signs of aging.

Although the underlying cause of adult acne is similar to that teenage acne, the treatments differ. This allows you to clear and care for your skin while also receiving anti-aging benefits. Avoiding improper treatments can keep you from irritating your blemishes and help prevent scarring.