Adult Acne: Causes and Treatment Options for Clearer Skin

Adult acne can feel like an unwelcome blast from your teenage past. Although you may have hoped pimples were confined to puberty, adult acne can be a concern into your 30s, 40s and 50s.¹ Even if you were lucky enough to have clear skin in high school, adult acne can still pop up later in life with more than 25% of women and 12% of men in their 40s reportedly struggling with skin blemishes as an adult.²

If you’re suffering from adult acne, don’t just reach for the same lotions and treatments you used when you were younger. Instead, learn more about the triggers and treatments that can help you on your way to clearer, radiant skin.

What Is Adult Acne?

Whether you call them pimples or blemishes, breakouts or zits, adult acne includes a variety of clogged and irritated pores that can occur on the face, neck, chest, shoulders or back.² Adult acne falls into one of two categories:³

• Persistent acne. Breakouts that never resolved or returned from teenage years
• Late-onset acne. New acne that appears for the first time after the age of 25

Types

While the term “acne” is often used for any kind of blemish on the skin, there are actually different types of acne.⁴

• Acne rosacea. Caused by inflammation, rosacea-related acne leads to small, red bumps and lingering redness in the center of the face.
• Acne vulgaris. One of the most common kinds of breakouts, acne vulgaris happens when oil and dead skin cells clog hair follicles. Acne vulgaris includes blackheads, whiteheads, papules and pustules and commonly appear on the on the face, chest, shoulders and back.
• Cystic acne. One of the most severe forms of acne, cystic acne has large, painful, pus-filled cysts caused by a buildup of bacteria, sebum and dead skin cells within a pore, triggering inflammation and infection. This type of acne is commonly caused by excess by a combination of excess oil, hormonal imbalances and genetics.
• Fungal acne. Caused by an overgrowth of yeast in hair follicles, fungal acne can be connected to tight, sweaty clothing, a weak immune system or certain medications like antibiotics and birth control.
• Hormonal acne. Caused by hormonal fluctuations during puberty, pregnancy, menstrual cycles and menopause, hormonal acne can cause deep, painful cysts beneath the skin, appearing on the chin and jawline.
• Nodular acne. Causing painful, firm, red or skin-colored lumps under the skin, nodular acne is caused by the Cutibacterium acnes bacteria, along with excess oil, hormonal imbalances and genetics. Nodular acne commonly appears on the jawline for women and the face, chest or back for men.

In addition to the type of acne, the severity of the breakouts can be classified as mild, moderate or severe.³ Having a dermatologist diagnose the type and severity of your adult acne can be an important first step toward selecting a treatment.

Common Causes of Adult Acne

To find effective treatment steps, it is also important to understand the root causes of your adult acne. Here are some of the common causes below.

Stress

Under pressure at work? Struggling with difficult family issues? Studies have found a connection between acne and stress. When the body is under stress, it increases the production of hormones such as androgens. These hormones can increase inflammation and trigger the skin’s oil glands, which can lead to clogged pores and blemishes.¹

Genetics

In addition to those long lashes and dimples, your family may have also passed down a tendency toward breakouts. According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, research suggests that you’re more likely to have adult acne if you have a blood relative who also suffered from skin issues.¹

Hormonal changes

Just like in the teen years, hormonal changes in adults can lead to acne. For women, hormonal changes can occur when starting or stopping birth control, around the menstrual cycle or during pregnancy, perimenopause or menopause.¹ Fluctuating testosterone levels in men can also lead to hormonal acne.⁴

Skin and hair products

Your lotion, hair spray or makeup brushes may also be the culprit for your adult acne. Certain hair and skin care products may include ingredients that can clog pores or add excess oil, making breakouts more likely.¹ Dirty makeup brushes can also harbor dirt, oil and bacteria, contributing to acne breakouts.⁵

Drugs and medication

Adult acne can also be a side effect of certain drugs or medications. This can include birth control pills or drugs such as corticosteroids, androgens or lithium.³ If your current medication is causing adult acne, talk with your prescribing doctor to see if an alternative option is available.¹

Treatment Options for Acne in Adults

Luckily, there are options when it comes to treating adult acne. From lifestyle changes and over-the-counter options to prescriptions and professional treatments, you can find a treatment to match your needs.

Lifestyle changes

Some adult acne can be improved with lifestyle changes. Washing your face no more than twice a day, choosing gentle, non-comedogenic skin care products and avoiding touching your face may help decrease irritation and flare-ups.⁶

Some research also suggests that dietary changes — such as limiting cow’s milk and high glycemic foods like bread, cereals, potatoes and pastries — may help reduce acne.²

Topical treatments

Anti-acne cleansers, lotions and spot treatments are among the topical acne treatments that are applied directly to the affected area.³ They can be available over the counter or at a higher dose with a prescription.

Topical anti-acne products can include ingredients like benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, azelaic acid or retinoids that work to reduce bacteria on the skin or help prevent clogged follicles.² Note that some topical acne treatments can irritate or dry out the skin, so you may need to start slowly while your skin adjusts.³

Oral medications

Oral medications may be prescribed for moderate to severe cases of adult acne, which can include antibiotics, hormone therapy or prescriptions such as isotretinoin. Antibiotics such as clindamycin, doxycycline, erythromycin and minocycline help to reduce bacteria on the skin and provide anti-inflammatory benefits to calm irritation.²

Hormone-based treatments like oral spironolactone may be prescribed to women suffering from hormonal acne. For severe adult acne, isotretinoin, an oral retinoid, may be prescribed for acne that has been resistant to other treatments.²

Chemical peels

Chemical peels involve applying layers of a chemical solution, such as glycolic or salicylic acid, that cause skin cell turnover and exfoliate the outer layers of skin. This can help release trapped oil and clogged pores. Over-the-counter chemical peels contain lower concentrations of active ingredients for safe use at home, while professional in-office peels use stronger solutions that penetrate deeper into the skin.⁷

Light-based therapy

Light-based or laser treatments — such as blue and red light devices, infrared devices, photodynamic therapy or photopneumatic therapy — may reduce skin bacteria or remove dead skin cells from clogged follicles. Since no single laser or light therapy can effectively treat all types of acne, different light-based technologies may be combined to provide the best results. Both in-office and at-home light treatments are available and may help treat and reduce acne over time.⁸

Steroid injections

For severe adult acne, such as large nodules and painful cysts, steroid injections can be used as a treatment option.² The injections can help to provide relief for inflamed acne or cysts.⁹

Acne removal

When needed, draining or physically removing a blemish may be recommended as a treatment. A dermatologist or esthetician may use a process called extraction to remove blackheads or small cysts in a sterile way. A procedure called incision and drainage can be used on larger or infected cysts.⁹

Adult Acne Treatment Costs

The cost of adult acne treatments can vary greatly depending on whether you use over-the-counter topical treatments from your local drugstore, prescription-based treatments from a pharmacy or in-office treatments at a dermatologist or medspa.

As one example, doxycycline hyclate is an oral antibiotic that can be used to treat moderate to severe adult acne. The national average cost* of doxycycline hyclate is $85 per month, but it can range from $65 to $156 per month. The cost may be impacted by the specific brand, dosage and whether you are using a discount prescription card.¹⁰

Average cost of acne treatments by state/district

Here’s the average cost* for a month’s supply of doxycycline hyclate for each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia:¹⁰

Are Acne Treatments Covered By Insurance?

Acne treatment may be covered by insurance, depending on the severity of your acne, as well as your specific insurance plan. Insurance may cover treatments like topical medications or oral antibiotics, or, for more severe acne, treatment options like isotretinoin or medically necessary chemical peels.¹¹

Tips to Prevent Adult Acne

While many causes of adult acne can be out of your control, you can take steps to try to keep your skin healthy and clean:¹²

• Avoid harsh scrubs, which can aggravate acneic skin.
• Avoid touching your face or picking acne blemishes.
• Choose noncomedogenic skin care and cosmetics.
• Regularly wash things that touch your face, including makeup brushes, pillowcases and cell phones.
• Support healthy skin by prioritizing sleep, staying hydrated and eating a balanced diet.
• Take steps to reduce stress.
• Wash your face daily with a gentle cleanser.

Clearer Skin Is Within Reach

Adult acne doesn’t have to be something you live with. From lifestyle changes and over-the-counter options to oral medications and in-office treatments, there are a variety of treatment options available to help address your skin concerns. Make an appointment with a dermatologist to review your treatment options and start on the path to clearer skin.

CareCredit Credit Card Financing for Dermatology

The CareCredit credit card makes it easy to pay for dermatology visits, over-the-counter treatments and prescription medications at locations within the CareCredit network.** Start enhancing your skin today and find a dermatologist near you that accepts CareCredit. Continue your wellness journey by downloading the CareCredit Mobile App to manage your account, find a provider on the go and easily access the Well U blog for more great articles, podcasts and videos.

In addition to dermatology, you can also use your CareCredit credit card for other cosmetic procedures, dentistry, pet care, vision, hearing, health systems, dermatology, pharmacy purchases, spa treatments and so much more within the CareCredit network. How will you invest in your health and wellness next?

Author Bio

Kate Bayless is a health and wellness freelance writer with 20 years of experience. Her work has appeared in Parents, Women’s Health, Beachbody and OpenFit.