Adult acne is a far more common occurrence than people believe but with symptoms much the same as they appear in teens. But do the two differ in how they occur and does adult acne require different treatment?

Dr Shaan Patel, the founder and medical director at Aatma Aesthetics, discusses the causes of adult acne and how it’s treated:

He said: “The root cause is the same, the pores get clogged with sebum and debris from dead skin cells and then become an ideal environment for p.Acnes, a bacterium causing inflammation and swelling.

“Skin cell turnover decreases with age, meaning that adults can find it much slower to heal from their breakouts. Teenage skin is oilier so responds to stronger acne treatments, while adult skin is more irritable and sensitive.”

Dr Patel adds that hormones play a massive part in the occurrence of adult acne.

He said: “In adults, everything from pregnancy, any point of a menstrual cycle, menopause and stress can trigger acne. In teenagers, it’s due to an increase in androgenic hormones such as testosterone that cause the pores to get clogged.

“Both adults and teenagers can get cystic acne, characterised by pus-filled cysts and inflamed skin.”

Dr Patel shares his advice for dealing with acne in both teens and adults:

 Adults – Focus on spot treatment and avoid squeezing or picking which can lead to hyperpigmentation. Also, avoid over-drying agents by using salicylic/glycolic acid and use niacinamide to balance uneven skin tone and reduce premature ageing.

 Teens – Teens must learn a good skincare routine and habits to help prevent adult acne. Avoid alcohol and artificial fragrances and colours which can cause the skin to produce more oil, as well as remembering to moisturise and daily SPF to prevent breakouts from skin stress.