Treating Adult and Teenage Acne

When you picture a typical acne sufferer, do you visualise spotty teenagers with oily skin and greasy hair? You’d be right, because acne happens to about 85% of teenagers, affecting more boys than girls. This is because acne is caused by the over-activity of the sebaceous glands that secrete oil onto the skin during puberty. During adolescence there is a sharp increase in the production of androgens in the body which stimulate the sebaceous glands. This is why teenagers are affected more by acne than adults.

Getting acne at any age can cause problems emotionally. No one wants to look in the mirror and see a spotty face looking back at them. For teenagers, especially, this is a difficult time when they are beginning to become concerned about their appearance and how others see them. Having acne can be extremely mortifying to the sufferer which can really affect their self-confidence and self-esteem. This doesn’t mean that adults are happy to have acne spots, but they seem better able to deal with them. They probably laugh it off and say that they are turning into teenagers!

So why are adult acne treatments different from teenage acne treatments? To start with, adult acne is slightly different to teenage acne. Whilst teenagers suffer with a range of blackheads, whiteheads, papules and pustules, adults tend to suffer with more papules and cysts. With teenagers, acne is mostly caused by an over-production of oil. However, with adults there are different causes such as hormonal fluctuations, coming off birth control pills, stress and reactions to makeup. For these reasons, adult acne tends to affect more women than men. It’s not unusual for a woman to get spotty around the time of their periods, during pregnancy and during menopause. Polycystic ovary syndrome is another possible reason for acne in adult women.

So what are the main differences between adult acne treatments and teenage acne treatments?

1.As teenage skin is usually more oily, acne products aimed for teenagers contain ingredients that cause the skin to produce less oil. Unless you have very oily skin, adults should avoid teen marketed products as they can be too drying. You should look for brands that are specific to the adult market.

2. Over-the-counter medication to treat teenage acne is usually the same as treating adult acne. However, a teenager will be given a lower dosage of prescription only medication than an adult, based on body weight.

3.Adult women are often prescribed oral contraceptives to help balance hormonal fluctuation that cause acne especially associated with menstruation. Also some women are advised to take Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), especially post-menopausal women who are also suffering from other symptoms.

Whether you are a teenager or adult with acne, the treatment strategies are still the same: to use prescription or over-the-counter medication as prescribed or advised by your doctor, dermatologist or pharmacist.

If you want to know more about adult acne treatments or about acne scar remedies, please visit my Clear Skin Guide website.

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