Of all the things you may miss about adolescence, acne probably isnt one of them.
This article cites 10 things you ought to know about adult acne before explaining how dermatologists treat it.
About 85% of them deal with acne at some point during the teen years.
Daniel Ingold / Cultura / Getty Images
For many males, breakouts diminish over time but never completely go away.
For others, acne appears for the first time during adulthood.
Dermatologists call this adult-onset acne.
DermNet /CC BY-NC-ND
And women are more likely to deal with adult acne than men.
Understand the Causes of Acne
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.
DermNet /CC BY-NC-ND
Knowing what causes acne should help you treat it rightand get better results.
DermNet /CC BY-NC-ND
Take Care of Your Skin
Acne isnt resulting from a dirty face.
But a good skincare routine will help get your acne treatments on track.
You dont have to spend a lot of time, and you dont need a lot of products.
Be Careful When You Shave
Acne can make shaving difficult and often painful.
So take extra care when shaving.
Dont shave off the tops of pimples, and shave carefully over blemishes.
If your razor is irritating your skin, try switching to an electric one.
If you have serious acne, or if shaving irritates your skin, try experimenting with a beard trimmer.
It will clip the hair short but not completely remove it.
Know That Enlarged Pores Can Improve
Some men consider large pores just as annoying as pimples.
Large pores are especially common in people with oily skin.
No skin care product can eliminate large pores, but someover-the-counter acne productsmay help them appear smaller.
In other words, you should expect your pores to return to their normal size sooner rather than later.
Consider Treatment Options
There are many acne treatment options available today.
Stubborn acne will respond better to prescription medication.
Isotretinoin might be an option.
Treat Body Acne
Acne can show up on other places besides your face.
Many men deal withback and body acne, too.
Body washes made specifically for body breakouts are available at many drug stores.
The most effective ones containbenzoyl peroxide.
Plan For Plan B
If OTC products dont work, consider a prescription medication for body acne.
A dermatologist is trained to diagnose and treat skin conditions.
Plus, dermatologists expertise goes more than skin deep.
They understand that acne can shake someones confidence and make them feel self-conscious.
Compassionate ones are out there.
Skin is a resilient organ, but it can also be stubborn.
It may take up to three or four months before you notice a difference in your skin.
Expect to stick with a treatment for at least that long.
This doesnt mean your treatment isnt working.
Give it time, and direct any questions to your dermatologist.
It can make you feel self-conscious, anxious, and depressed.
Dont be too hard on yourself; youre not being shallow or vain.
Many people feel this way.
Just feeling like you have some control over your skin can give you a boost.
Of the hundreds of skin conditions that afflict people, acne is the most common.
It affects up to 50 million Americans a year.
Their challenge is to match the treatment to your specific condition.
2016;74(5):945-73.e33.
doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2015.12.037
American Academy of Dermatology.Adult acne.
Ogunbiyi A.Pseudofolliculitis barbae; current treatment options.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol.
2019;12:241-247. doi:10.2147/CCID.S149250
American Academy of Dermatology.What can treat large facial pores?.
American Academy of Dermatology.What can clear severe acne?.
Yang Z, Zhang Y, Lazic Mosler E, et al.Topical benzoyl peroxide for acne.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.
2020;3(3):CD011154.
doi:10.1002/14651858.CD011154.pub2
American Academy of Dermatology.Skin conditions by the numbers.
American Academy of Dermatology.Acne: diagnosis and treatment.
