What Causes Adult Acne and How Dermatologists Treat It

Acne… That’s a teenage issue, isn’t it? Unfortunately, it’s not only something that adds to the roller coaster ride that is puberty and early adulthood—it can strike at any age.

While it’s true that it is more likely if you suffered when younger, anybody can experience outbreaks of adult acne. Treatment focuses on addressing the underlying cause, which is usually hormonal. However, because multiple things can affect this, dermatologists need to use a multi-pronged approach to get to the root of the issue. 

Hormonal Acne in Adults: common and not so common causes

Hormones are complex things. While all humans secrete the same ones, each of us has different levels and triggers, not to mention a dynamic, ever-changing platform according to internal and external influences. This means that every adult acne treatment needs to be tailored to target your unique needs.

Your dermatologist will assess your requirements, which might include blood tests to obtain an accurate hormone assessment.

Some of the more common causes include:

• Hormonal imbalance.
• Stress.
• Certain medications.
• Genetics.
• Some hair and skin products.
• Poor diet.

Less commonly, and perhaps somewhat surprisingly, adult acne breakouts have also been linked to:

• Beard rash from kissing a partner with a bristly chin.
• Cutting out essential fats from your diet (resulting in dry and flaky skin).
• Excessively touching your skin.
• Household products, such as your laundry powder.

Hormonal changes, especially in women of childbearing age, occur all the time. Both menstruation and pregnancy mean that the body is forever working a balancing act. When you add stress, work, diet, exercise, genetics, and every other potential cause into the mix… Well, it’s easy to see that your dermatologist will have to create a bespoke treatment plan to effectively address your individual needs.

The Path to Effective Adult Acne Treatment

Your initial appointment will include your skin doctor taking an in-depth history. The more information you can give, the better. Keeping an outbreak diary is a valuable tool—even more so if you can note down aspects such as food, alcohol intake, stress levels, periods, etc.

Your dermatologist has a host of treatment options available. These can include drug intervention, skin treatments, lifestyle tweaks, and more. Examples include:

• Medication: Such as topical retinoids, benzoyl peroxide, azelaic acid, topical or oral antibiotics, and more.
• Skin treatments: Like microdermabrasion, laser, or chemical peel. These effective methods of exfoliation remove the upper layer of dead skin cells and bacteria, the latter of which is a big culprit when it comes to acne outbreaks.
• Diet advice: Cutting out foods high in sugar, certain fats, and refined carbs often helps, as does increasing the amount of fruit and veg you consume. Reducing alcohol intake can also be effective. While it doesn’t actually cause acne, its effect on the body can trigger responses through inflammation and dehydration. It can also significantly alter your body’s sensitive hormonal response.
• Reviewing any prescription or OTC medication: Meds, such as steroids, some anticonvulsants, and certain contraceptives are known to potentially trigger acne. If your dermatologist thinks this might be the case, they may consult with your other healthcare providers to see if there’s a link and if any changes are possible.
• Advice on changing external triggers: Such as your cosmetics, laundry products, hair care treatments, and skin care regime.
• Stress management techniques: if this is deemed to be a cause. (And, let’s be honest, who isn’t stressed out some—or a lot—of the time)

Acne treatment isn’t instant. It takes weeks, or even months, for improvements to be seen. However, certain physical treatments, such as the above-mentioned chemical peels, laser, or dermabrasion, can lead to quite significant improvement—even after a single session.

Partnering with an experienced skin doctor is key. Adult acne can range from being a mild annoyance to totally life-inhibiting, which is why building up a trusted relationship with your chosen professional is essential. Whether you’re in NY, LA, Chicago, or Houston, an acne dermatologist with a proven track record of successful treatments is vital.

You might want to speak to your general healthcare practitioner for advice or talk to friends and family to see if they have any recommendations. Hormonal acne in adults is becoming increasingly common, and teaming up with a great acne dermatologist at the earliest stage is key to the fastest results.

Bayou City Dermatology offers the latest, cutting-edge adult acne treatments. Discover more at https://www.bayoucitydermatology.com/clinical/acne-treatment