Help! I’m an Adult With Acne

There are a lot of things going on on a microscopic level with every part of your body, and nowhere is that more true than your skin. Your pores, for example, are tiny openings in your skin that allow you to reduce your body heat by sweating, grow hair, and keep your skin from drying up. 

Acne is one of the most common skin problems worldwide, and while often thought of as the awkward phase of growing teens, it’s a problem you can deal with well into adulthood. If you live in the Chicago, Illinois, area and you’re struggling with skin problems like acne, our dedicated medical team at Michigan Avenue Primary Care can help you achieve clearer skin.

Your skin’s natural oils and the water from your sweat help keep your skin healthy, but they can also irritate and contribute to the formation of acne. To better understand why this happens and what you can do to deal with it, let’s look at what acne is, what can cause you to develop it in your adult years, and how we can help you manage your acne.

Understanding acne

Your pores can be blocked by dead skin cells, oil, bacteria, and dirt. This leads to a pimple (commonly called a zit) forming, and when this happens regularly, you have acne.

Acne breakouts can result in the development of whiteheads, blackheads, nodules, papules, pustules, and cysts. They are sometimes painful and may contain pus, depending on the type.

You may be used to seeing acne on your face, but it can also show up on your neck, shoulders, back, and chest, and may result in skin discoloration, swelling, inflammation, pain, and tenderness when touched.

Factors that lead to adult acne

Acne in adults happens between ages 20-70 in about 31.9% of women and 20.5% of men, though the rate of acne decreases as you get older. 

In some cases, acne develops in people who didn’t deal with it as teens and as a result of factors such as hormonal changes, family history, contact irritation, emotional stress, hair and skin care products, certain foods, and, of course, clogged pores and bacteria.

Some medications can also lead to breakouts of adult acne, like various antidepressants, corticosteroids, hormonal birth control pills, and epilepsy drugs. Some skin conditions can either resemble acne or lead to it as well, including Cushing syndrome, perioral dermatitis, keratosis pilaris, rosacea, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Treatment and management

We can help you with your acne in a number of ways including oral and topical medications (retinoids, antibiotics, antiandrogens). Sometimes over-the-counter creams (benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, and adapalene gel) can help clear up your skin. Result times will vary depending on your needs and can range from 4-6 weeks to 2-3 months.

There are also some basic home tips to help reduce the breakout of acne, like washing regularly after sweating (twice a day), making sure the skin products you use are gentle, avoiding scrubbing your skin if possible, rinsing with lukewarm water, and avoiding touching your face and popping pimples.

Adult acne can be embarrassing and may blemish your skin, but it can be managed and we can help. Make an appointment with our specialists at Michigan Avenue Primary Care to get clearer skin free of acne. Call our office today or schedule your visit online anytime.