Adult Acne and Maskne: Treatment Options for Clearer Skin

Could that be...a pimple? You may have thought you left acne in your teen years, but breakouts can still be a concern into your 30s, 40s and even 50s.¹ Even if you were lucky enough to have clear skin in high school, adult acne and maskne — acne caused by wearing a face mask — can also start to appear later in life. More than 25% of women and 12% of men in their 40s report still having breakouts.²

If you're suffering from adult acne or maskne, don't just grab the same lotions and treatments you used when you were younger. Learning more about the triggers for your breakouts and how to treat adult acne and maskne can help you on your way to clearer skin.

What Is Adult Acne?

Adult acne is acne that occurs outside of the teen years, usually when a person is over the age of 25.⁴ Blemishes, breakouts or spots — whatever you call them, all acne is caused by one or more of the following:⁵

• Bacteria
• Inflammation
• Excess oil production
• Hair follicles clogged by excessive skin oil or dead skin cells

While the term “acne" is often used for any kind of blemish on the skin, there are actually different types of acne breakouts:⁵

• Pimples are pus-filled papules.
• Blackheads are open-clogged pores.
• Whiteheads are closed-clogged pores.
• Nodules are solid, painful lumps under the skin.
• Cystic lesions are painful, pus-filled bumps under the skin.

Adult acne breakouts usually occur on the face, neck, chest, upper back and shoulders.⁵ Women are more likely to have acne than men.¹

What Is Maskne?

Maskne is a term used for acne caused by wearing a face mask. Maskne breakouts are focused around the nose, mouth and chin and are usually smaller pimples, blackheads or whiteheads.⁶

Seeing a dermatologist can help diagnose the type of breakouts you are suffering from and confirm that it is indeed acne. Other skin conditions such as hidradenitis suppurativa or perioral dermatitis may be confused for acne and require different treatment methods.⁷

Causes of Adult Acne and Maskne

To find effective treatment steps, it's important to understand the root causes of your adult acne and maskne. We've listed some of the most common causes below.

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, pregnancy, perimenopause or menopause.¹

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 production of hormones such as cortisol and androgens.⁸ 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 dimple, 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

Skin and hair products

Your lotion, hair spray or makeup brushes may also be the culprit for your adult acne. Certain ingredients can clog pores and trap dirt, and dirty makeup brushes can harbor bacteria, leading to breakouts.⁹

Medications

Adult acne can also be a side effect of certain medications, such as those containing corticosteroids, testosterone or lithium.⁵

Face masks

Face masks can lead to an increase in breakouts or maskne in a variety of ways. They create a humid environment around the nose and mouth in which bacteria thrives. A dirty mask may also be harboring bacteria. Face masks can also dry out and chafe the skin, making breakouts more likely.¹⁰

Adult Acne and Maskne Treatment Options

Luckily, there are lots of options when it comes to treating adult acne and maskne. 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 twice a day, keeping your hands off your face during the day and changing your pillowcase can help keep bacteria on your face at bay.¹¹

Some research also suggests that dietary changes — such as limiting cow's milk and simple carbohydrates like bread, cereals, potatoes and pastries — may help reduce acne.¹²

Over-the-counter treatments

Anti-acne cleansers, lotions and spot treatments are available over the counter, with ingredients like benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid or azelaic acid that work to reduce bacteria on the skin or help the skin cells turn over to prevent clogged follicles.⁷

Like many acne treatments, over-the-counter treatments often take multiple weeks or months to bring results, so consistency and patience is key. Some can also irritate or dry out the skin, so you may need to start slowly to build up to daily or twice-a-day use.¹³

Prescription medications

If over-the-counter medications aren't helping your adult acne or maskne, it may be time to explore prescription acne medications, such as retinoids that help with skin cell turnover, topical antibiotics to treat skin bacteria or oral medications like oral contraceptives, antibiotics, anti-androgens or isotretinoin.¹³ Each type of prescription treatment comes with its own potential side effects, so talk with a dermatologist to help determine which is the right course of treatment for you.

Chemical peels

Chemical peels involve applying layers of a chemical solution such as glycolic acid, salicylic acid or retinoic acid that cause gentle exfoliation of the outer layers of skin. They can be used to treat mild acne or improve the appearance of acne scars and hyperpigmentation.¹³

The average cost of a chemical peel is around $500.

LED light therapy

LED light or laser treatments such as blue + red light devices, infrared devices, photodynamic therapy or photopneumatic therapy may reduce skin bacteria or remove dead skin cells from clogging follicles. Both in-office and at-home light treatments are available and may help treat and reduce acne over time.¹⁴

LED light therapy treatments cost between $25 and $250. Multiple sessions are usually needed to see results.¹⁵

Steroid injections

Cystic acne and large nodules can be treated with a steroid injection that decreases the pain, swelling and inflammation of the blemish.¹³

Steroid injections for acne cost an average of $25 to $100.³

Acne removal

Some professional treatments work to physically remove blemishes. A dermatologist or esthetician may use a process called extraction to remove whiteheads or blackheads from the skin in a safe and sterile way.¹⁶ Extractions may be performed as part of a routine facial or dermatologist visit.

A procedure called incision and drainage can be used on larger nodules and cystic acne to drain the lump and reduce pain, swelling and inflammation.¹⁶ Incision and drainage can cost between $109 to $759 depending on the number and severity of the nodules.¹⁷

Tips to Prevent Adult Acne and Maskne

While there are some causes of acne that may be out of your control, you can take steps to try to prevent adult acne or maskne, including refining your skin care¹ and diet.⁸

• Be consistent with a skin care routine and avoid overly harsh products.
• Use skin care and cosmetic products that are designed to not clog your pores. Look for labels like oil-free, non-acnegenic and non-comedogenic.
• Wash or disinfect items that come into contact with your face, such as masks, pillowcases and cellphones.¹⁸
• Keep your hands off your skin. (No picking!)
• Eat a healthy diet rich in leafy greens, fruits and vegetables.

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 investing in your skin today and apply for the CareCredit credit card. Find a dermatologist near you that accepts CareCredit and 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 hub for more great articles, podcasts, and videos.

Author Bio

Kate Bayless is a health and wellness freelance writer with 15 years of experience. Her work has appeared in Parents, Women's Health, Beachbody, and OpenFit.