How is Adult Acne Different Than Teenage Acne?

When you think of acne, do you think about middle school and teenagers? Think again: Some adults struggle with acne into later decades. Even in your 30s and 40s, whiteheads, blackheads, and cystic acne may appear on your face and upper back. Still, adult acne differs from teenage acne in some key ways. And, as an adult pursuing the goal of clear skin, you have a wide range of tools and therapies available. At Z-Roc Dermatology, we offer a range of anti-acne services, including topical treatments and acne laser and light therapies, to adult patients in the Fort Lauderdale, Florida, area.

Is acne only skin deep?

During your teenage years, changes in your body and hormones typically leave your hair and skin more oily than usual. In combination, excess oil and hormone swings create a recipe for acne breakouts. Acne affects more than 75% of all teenagers. After adolescence, your skin oils tend to regulate, and your hormones settle down. Nevertheless, the factors that cause breakouts for teens – oil and dead skin cells, hormone swings – can lead to new breakouts throughout your adult life. Family history and personal health can play into lifelong acne struggles, as well.

Acne breakouts happen when your sebaceous glands become overactive, secreting too much oil. The oil leads to blocked pores, and acne outbreaks are exacerbated by harmful bacteria commonly found on the surface of your skin. Bad habits like poor hygiene and touching your face can make breakouts worse. For some adults, natural reductions in skin oil quantity due to aging may make breakouts worse, as your skin becomes overly dry and prone to flaking or irritation.

Balancing your skin type

At Z-Roc Dermatology, our care team, led by board-certified dermatologists Matthew Zarraga, DO, and Khongruk Wongkittiroch, DO, can recommend a variety of treatments for adult acne:

• Topical treatments, including retinoids, can work to clean and degrease your skin, clearing blocked pores and helping to resolve breakouts.
• Oral antibiotics work to resolve breakouts and infection concerns.
• For women, hormone-based therapies including birth control can help control adult acne.
• Light and laser treatment, a non-invasive therapy, kills acne-causing bacteria under the surface of your skin using safe, directed ultraviolet light.
• Chemical peels completely resurface your skin, giving you a clean slate free from acne.

You might find that one, or many, of these options resolve your acne problems for good. The Z-Roc Dermatology team can advise you on the best treatment or treatments for your adult acne and skin type, whether your face is too oily or uncomfortably dried out. To schedule your initial consultation appointment with a member of our team, call today, or use the online booking tool.