Why Does Acne Appear Suddenly in Adulthood
Many people think acne is just a teenage problem, but it can pop up out of nowhere as an adult. This sudden adult acne often hits women more than men, starting after age 25 even if you never had bad breakouts before.[3] It feels frustrating because your skin was fine, then bam, red bumps and cysts show up on your face, back, or chest.[1]
The main reason is hormones. Your body makes more oil, called sebum, from glands in your skin because of hormone shifts. These shifts happen during big life changes like pregnancy, starting menopause, stopping birth control pills, or even monthly cycles.[1][3] For example, androgens, which are male-like hormones everyone has, can go out of balance in women and ramp up oil production, clogging pores and sparking inflammation.[3] This leads to blocked hair follicles where bacteria grow, causing those painful pimples.[2]
Stress plays a big role too. When you are stressed, your body pumps out more hormones that tell your skin to make extra oil. This makes existing acne worse or triggers new spots suddenly.[1] Sweating a lot, like from workouts or wearing hats, traps bacteria and oil in pores, worsening things.[1][4]
Diet can contribute. Eating lots of processed foods might increase breakouts, though no single food is proven to cause it every time.[1][4] Genetics matter as well; if your family had acne, you might be more prone.[2] Some medicines or hair products with oil can clog pores too.[1][2]
Other habits like over-washing your face or picking at pimples irritate skin and make acne flare up fast.[4] In adults, this acne is often stubborn and comes back, unlike teen acne that fades on its own.[3]
Sources
https://drkormeilidermatology.com/dermatology-santa-monica/skincare/acne-acne-scarring/
https://drparashshrestha.com.np/what-is-acne-causes-symptoms-treatment/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12691598/
https://thehealthinsider.ca/battling-adult-acne-a-skin-struggle/
