Women and men alike often assume they will leave the embarrassment and irritation of acne behind when they say goodbye to the tumultuous teen years, only to find out that acne has followed them into their twenties, thirties, and beyond. It’s an unpleasant reality, but one faced by many: adult acne afflicts roughly 30-50% of women and 20-25% of men between the ages of 20 and 60.
While teens with acne are almost the norm and so not judged terribly harshly by society at large, adult acne can be the bane of one’s existence. Some sufferers find that they are unable to feel totally comfortable in social situations or worry that their professional advancement is being negatively impacted by adult acne. Photographs may be a cause of stress instead of cherished keepsakes, and lasting adult acne can even become a catalyst for serious anxiety.
But if you’re coping with adult acne, the answer to the question “Is acne forever?” is “No, it doesn’t have to be.”
Adult Acne Doesn’t Have to Define You
One piece of good news is that those people coping with adult acne are certainly not alone. The statistics prove that many, many women and men will experience at least one bout of adult acne and epidemiological studies show that rates of post-adolescent acne are apparently increasing in people up to age 40. And yet, even though the sudden appearance of adult acne is common, it can still cause lasting embarrassment, shyness, worry, and depression.
A second piece of good news is that adult acne is entirely treatable. While the underlying causes of adult acne aren’t well understood, more and more treatments designed for mature skin are being developed. In my offices at Elizabeth Roche MedSpa, we carry a full product line for acne treatment and a peel called Elimine designed just for acne-prone skin. Additionally, many of our products and treatments promote healthier, youthful skin that may be less prone to acne.
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