I wish I had a dollar for every client who has expressed frustration at the fact that they had beautiful skin all through their teens, only to begin breaking out in their 20‘s, 30‘s, or even 40‘s and above. We all grew up believing that acne was a teen problem, to be left behind once we hit our 20’s. Besides, it seems only fair, doesn’t it, that once we start getting wrinkles and age spots, we should be done with the acne?
Unfortunately, now more than ever before, adults too are facing the challenges of oily and acneic skin conditions. Clinical studies indicate that between 40 and 55 percent of the adult population age 20-40 are diagnosed with low grade, persistent acne and oily skin. According to the Journal of American Academy of Dermatology, 54 percent of women older than age 25 have some facial acne.
To add further insult to injury, research has also shown that acne that begins in adulthood is more likely to be inflammatory (pustules and cysts). While teens usually break out around the entire face (and sometimes shoulders, back and chest), adult acne is often found primarily around the mouth, chin and jaw line, indicating hormonal and/or stress-related causes. Adults also often have sensitized skin, or a combination of skin conditions in addition to their acne, which makes treatment more challenging than the treatment of teens, who generally have more resilient, uniform and oily skin.
Acne occurs in people who have a genetic predisposition; if acne runs in the families of both parents, three out of four children may suffer from it. It can be stimulated by many factors, including internal factors such as the onset of puberty, hormonal fluctuations, pharmaceutical agents, and stress, or external stimuli such as using inappropriate products on the skin, heat, friction and humidity.
Triggered by hormones, acne can occur at any stage in our lives. The primary aggravating factor leading to adult acne is chronic stress. We all know that acute stress can cause the occasional breakout. But chronic, continual stress increases hormone levels, which can lead to an increase in oil production, causing chronic, continual acne.
One reason adult acne is on the rise in the female population is because of the additional responsibilities that have increased women’s stress levels. The pressure to work outside the home to help maintain a steady family income while maintaining a functioning household is unique to this generation of women in their 20s, 30s and 40s. Combine workplace stress with household responsibilities, cosmetics that contain known skin irritants and monthly hormone fluctuations and you have a perfect breeding ground for the formation of adult acne.
And of course, we often tend to be our own worst enemies when it comes to taking care of our skin. We try to economize by buying drugstore cleansers that can have the same alkalinity level as Ajax cleanser (seriously — I’ve seen it!), and acne medications that make our skin so dry that our skin actually launches into “overdrive” and produces even more oil. In addition, there is that overwhelming urge to pick or squeeze breakouts, placing even more acne-causing bacteria on the skin, and spreading the bacteria under the skin by rupturing the pore.
A professional skin therapist will recognize that chronic stress is often the trigger for adult acne. They will look into your symptoms as well as your lifestyle to outline a professional treatment program and a home care regimen that will help you combat the your acne and maintain clear skin, while keeping your skin pH balanced and hydrated.