Why Adult Skin Produces Acne Differently
Acne is often seen as a teenage issue, but many adults deal with breakouts too. The difference lies in how adult skin makes acne. In teens, rapid growth hormones cause oil glands to overproduce sebum everywhere on the face. This leads to widespread pimples, blackheads, and whiteheads across the forehead, cheeks, and nose.
Adult skin works differently. Hormones shift in unique ways during life stages like menstrual cycles, pregnancy, menopause, or conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome. These changes boost androgens, which are hormones that ramp up oil production mainly in the lower face. Breakouts cluster along the jawline, chin, and neck instead of the whole face. The pimples tend to be deeper, cystic, and tender, with less blackheads or whiteheads compared to teen acne.
Stress plays a bigger role in adults. It raises cortisol levels, which indirectly increases oil and inflammation. Women face this more often than men because of monthly hormone swings or birth control changes. Diet matters too. Foods high in dairy or sugar can spike insulin, worsening oil output in mature skin.
Skin in adulthood is also thinner and more sensitive. Overwashing or harsh products strip the barrier, prompting glands to make even more oil. Heat, sweat, greasy cosmetics, and medications add to the mix. Unlike teen acne from quick puberty changes, adult versions stem from ongoing imbalances, making them harder to clear without targeting the root.
Adult acne can scar if ignored, as the inflammation runs deeper. It flares with life events, not just growth spurts.
Sources
https://www.woodsidemd.com/post/adult-acne-or-rosacea-why-the-difference-matters-more-than-you-think
https://www.medicaldaily.com/hormonal-acne-adults-acne-causes-skin-hormones-explained-474128
https://www.tuftsmedicine.org/about-us/news/acne-over-30
https://www.draliabadi.com/blog/hormonal-acne/
https://artofskincare.com/blogs/learn/acne-lesson-1-what-is-acne-and-why-do-i-have-it
https://renotahoederm.com/when-its-time-to-see-a-dermatologist-for-acne-in-reno-nv/
