Acne past teens

Spots, pimples, zits, acne – it doesn’t matter what you call it, it’s still one of the most common skin complaints that can really make a good day go bad. Considered a problem exclusive to teenagers, it can plague those later in life too. There’s nothing worse than having a breakout in your 30s or 40s -just when you think you’re well out of the danger zone a few late nights, too much wine, wrong time of month and/or bad diet can turn a normally spot free face into one resembling a teen (with the added bonus of a few fine lines and crows feet). The only consolation is that it’s as common as mud. We asked Dermatologist Dr Sajjad Rajpar from the Skin Institute about adult acne.

What causes adult acne?

Uncertain but as with all acne, cells that line hair follicles are too “sticky”, sebaceous glands produce too much grease and P acnes, a skin bacterium, thrives. All this causes blackheads, whiteheads and spots. In almost a half of women, acne may worsen with their periods. However, most women have normal hormone levels. It may be that hair follicles are over sensitive to hormones in these women. A true hormone imbalance is not common but can cause acne, particularly in women who have  polycystic ovarian syndrome which has other features such as irregular or absent periods and infertility.

If you had bad acne as a teenager does this mean you’ll get bad acne when you’re an adult?

No, the good news is that most teenagers do grow out of their acne. However,  up to 30% have acne persisting into their 20′s, and 20% persisting into their 30′s and 40′s, so acne is not just a problem of teenagers.

How do you treat it?

A selection of treatments are available and treatment is tailored to individual needs and it is best to see a specialist who is able to do this. Topical treatments are useful for mild acne and include benzoyl peroxide, antibiotics and retinoids. These treatments usually require a doctors prescription. The effectiveness of creams varies significantly by how, when and where they are applied. It is important to get advice from a specialist about this.

More severe acne requires oral medications including antibiotics and retinoids. Other treatments that can help improve acne include lasers, intense pulsed light, chemical peels and microdermabrasion.

Can it occur just on the face or all over? 

The face is the most common location though the chest, back and shoulders can be affected in one fifth to one third of patients.

Is it recurring – an ongoing problem?

It is often neglected that acne is a chronic condition that can last months to years. Many individuals require continuous maintenance treatment or repeated short courses of treatment for acne. This is why it is important to see a specialist.

What lifestyle factors should be taken into consideration?

While old wives tales frequently quote high fat or high sugar diets to exacerbate acne, there is no conclusive evidence that acne is aggrevated by dietary factors for most individuals. However, it is apparent that certain foods in certain individuals trigger acne and these should be avoided.  Other simple things to avoid include very greasy moisturisers that clog hair follicles and makeup that isn’t non-comedogenic. Harsh soaps, astringents, scrubs and masks all have the potential to aggrevate acne in some people. Occluding the skin, such as resting the cheek on a palm for prolonged periods, is also known to aggrevate acne.

Picking and squeezing acne spots should be cautioned as this increases the risk of scarring.