Autumn 2019Teen acne versus adult acne

Adult Acne

Skin therapists are commonly asked by adult clients: ‘Why am I breaking out at my age?’

Contrary to common belief, acne isn’t just for teenagers, it can affect anyone.

Thanks to stress, hormonal changes, busy lifestyles and an increasingly polluted environment, this all contributes to more adult acne and congestion. Breakouts tend to be more inflamed (red, sensitive) and are generally located around the mouth, chin and jawline.

To help with adult acne, it is recommended to:

• Avoid over-drying the skin by looking for ingredients such as salicylic acid or glycolic acid to help remove dead skin cells.
• If skin ageing is also a concern, look for ingredients such as Niacinamide to help balance uneven skin tone, as well as Retinol, a smoothing ingredient designed for wrinkles.
• Avoid picking or squeezing the breakouts, as this can result in more breakouts. Seek a professional skin therapist for extraction.

Teen Acne

Teenage acne is part hormonal, part genetic and largely in part thanks to puberty. Teen acne is usually predominant on the face, chest and back, and teens tend to experience more blackheads and whiteheads than adults with acne.

These types of breakouts often come up due to the rise in androgens, the ‘male’ hormones that both guys and girls have.

Teen skin has a faster cell turnover and is more resilient than adult skin, which results in the skin recovering quickly from breakouts.

To help with teen skin, it is recommended to:

• Focus on maintaining a good skincare routine and skincare habits i.e. changing pillow cases every night, not picking or popping breakouts.
• Avoid products containing pore-clogging ingredients, e.g. Lanolin.
• Look for products that include salicylic acid to exfoliate away dead skin cells.
• Moisturise and wear SPF daily as dehydration and environmental factors can trigger more sebum production and existing breakouts can appear worse. If your skin is oily, use an oil-free moisturiser.

ABOUT THE WRITER

Becky Fletcher has been part of the Revive team for over six years, covering all aspects of beauty. She is a CND Master L&P nail technician, as well as a Dermalogica Skin Specialist.