What the experts say

Dermatologists will often classify acne as ‘inflammatory’: with red areas and pustules, or sometimes ‘comedonal’:  with blackheads and whiteheads. I also frequently see overlap with rosacea, which can be another reason to explain limited responses to treatment.  It is also important to look for any medical conditions or medications that may be exacerbating the problem. 

 

Adult onset acne vs teen acne

Most people associate acne with teenagers and whilst it is a common and complex issue in teen skin, teen acne tips can be found here, in my clinical practice I frequently see patients in their 30s with adult onset acne.  There is also evidence to suggest that the spectrum of onset of acne is changing, with cases emerging both earlier and later than what has been noted in the past. Late onset disease occurs in about 20% of women and 8% of men. The data suggests women are more frequently affected by adult acne compared with men. The exact reason for this is unknown, but felt to be related to fluctuating hormone levels: during periods or from birth control pills, and also during and following pregnancy. Your genes also play an important role and it’s not uncommon for there to be a significant family history of acne in close relatives. The role of stress is also becoming more apparent. At times of stress the body naturally produces more androgens which stimulate oil glands and hair follicles in the skin.