Why Do I Still Have Acne As an Adult?

While acne is most common during your teenage years, the condition can continue well into adulthood. You can even experience your first acne breakout as an adult, even if your skin was clear during high school. 

Adult acne is one of many dermatological conditions that Dr. Christopher Smith and the team at Christos Doctors Inn Walk In Health Care see in patients from the Lauderhill and Lauderdale Lakes, Florida, areas. For help with skin issues, including acne, you can count on our compassionate providers for expert dermatology care. 

Why is my skin breaking out now that I’m an adult?

Your skin is covered in millions of follicles, which look like tiny tunnels that extend into the deeper layers of your skin. These follicles allow hair to extend from root cells out of the skin. They’re also the location where sebum, an oily substance your body produces to lubricate hair cells, comes into contact with your hair. 

Hair follicles allow dead skin cells and other debris to exit the skin through your pores, the tiny openings at the surface of your skin. Acne develops when excess sebum accumulates in your follicles, blocking pores and trapping dead skin cells and bacteria beneath your skin. Inflammation and redness follows, which creates acne breakouts. 

Hormonal fluctuations are a leading cause of excess sebum production. Shifting hormones can also slow your circulation and alter the pH balance of your skin, which further increases the risk of acne. 

These hormonal changes are why most people with acne experience outbreaks during puberty. But any hormonal shifting can increase your risk of acne, including pregnancy and menopause in women. Men can also experience adult acne due to hormonal shifts or use of certain medications. Some people simply have a genetic predisposition to acne. 

What can I do to ease and prevent acne outbreaks?

Acne can come in a number of different forms. Some adults experience visible blackheads and whiteheads. For others, larger red nodules or cysts mar the surface of the skin and can be uncomfortable. 

While the urge to try and clear your skin by squeezing or picking at acne lesions is understandable, these efforts are likely to make matters worse, and can even leave lasting scarring. 

For mild acne, many over-the-counter topical treatments are available to lessen the frequency and severity of outbreaks. Be careful to avoid overtreating the area, however, as serious dryness can develop and damage your skin. 

Professional treatment is the best way to address adult acne breakouts. At Christos Doctors Inn Walk In Health Care, you have access to a wide range of treatment options. Your practitioner might prescribe creams or ointment to soothe acne or oral medications for more severe forms of acne. 

It’s important to let your provider know about any medications and supplements you’re taking, as well as any health conditions you’ve been treated for. Certain acne medications can cause negative reactions when taken at the same time as other drugs. 

Once your breakouts are under control, our practice also offers medical aesthetic treatments to reduce the appearance of acne scarring and keep your skin looking its best. Chemical and manual exfoliation are available, as is laser therapy. These options can improve both the look and feel of your skin. 

No matter your age, it’s wise to seek professional treatment if you experience more than the occasional acne breakout. Severe or recurring acne lesions can damage your skin, leaving scarring and discoloration. 

Schedule an appointment at Christos Doctors Inn Walk In Health Care to begin a path toward clearer skin. You can reach out to the office that’s convenient to you by phone or book a visit online, but keep in mind that walk-in visits are also an option.