Why Do I Have Adult Acne So Suddenly?

Having clear, healthy skin as a teenager only to suddenly find yourself dealing with acne as an adult can feel like an unexpected and frustrating experience. Many of us assume that acne is a problem left behind in our teenage years, but for some, it appears well into adulthood. Whether you’re in your thirties, forties, or beyond, adult acne is more common than you might think. Regardless of age, understanding why it happens and how to manage it can help you tackle breakouts with confidence, leaving your skin clearer and healthier.

What Causes Adult Acne?

Adult acne refers to acne that occurs after the age of 25. While it’s often associated with teenage skin, many adults only experience it for the first time later in life. Brio-Medical Nutritionist Sarah Herrington (MS, CNC) explains, “Both may be influenced by changing hormonal levels, but while adolescent acne is due to growth and development, adult acne may be caused by other factors such as one’s environment, diet or food intolerance, or stress levels.” Acne has many different types, varying in size, shape, and severity. Whiteheads, blackheads, pimples, and some pustules are among the more mild forms of acne, while other types, such as nodulocystic acne, are much more severe, causing (painful) inflammation and scarring. Both direct and indirect factors contribute to adult acne, and recognizing these is crucial to treating the issue.

Direct Causes of Adult Acne

Several internal and external factors can directly cause acne to flare up in adults. These include:

• Excess oil production: Your skin naturally produces oil, or sebum, to stay hydrated. However, when your body makes too much of the oil, it can clog your pores, leading to acne.
• Clogged pores: When oil, dirt, and dead skin cells build up in your pores, they can become clogged. This creates a perfect environment for bacteria to grow, promoting acne. Cutibacterium acnes is one type of bacteria that clogs pores and causes inflammation.
• Inflammation: When you have clogged pores due to bacterial buildup, your immune system fights the bacteria by triggering inflammation. This inflammation results in swollen, red pimples or cysts.

Indirect Causes of Adult Acne

Beyond the direct causes, many lifestyle and hormonal factors indirectly contribute to adult acne by affecting oil production, inflammation, and clogged pores.

• Hormones: Experiencing fluctuations in hormone levels like going off birth control, your menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause can all cause imbalances, causing excess oil production. Environmental and chemical pollution can disrupt our hormone balance, leading to breakouts.
• Stress: Stress causes your body to release cortisol, increasing inflammation, which can worsen acne. This is why you notice more breakouts during stressful periods in life.
• Underlying medical conditions: Certain medical conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can lead to hormonal imbalances. PCOS symptoms such as weight gain, hair thinning, ovarian cysts, and irregular periods often come with increased acne.
• Skincare, hair, and makeup products: Certain products can clog pores, especially if they are oil-based or heavy on the skin. Make sure to choose products that are ‘non-comedogenic,’ ‘oil-free,’ or ‘non-acnegenic’ so they don’t further clog your pores, making your acne worse.
• Diet: Inflammatory foods like those high in sugar, dairy, or gluten, can exacerbate acne. Eating an unhealthy diet can affect your entire body, including whether or not you get acne, the severity, and the areas of the body it appears.
• Exercise: While exercise is great for your health, sweat buildup on your skin can trap oil, dirt, and bacteria, resulting in clogged pores.
• Medications: Certain medications, including corticosteroids, anabolic steroids, thyroid hormones, and lithium, are medications that can cause acne as a side effect.

How to Prevent Breakouts

Preventing acne is often easier than treating it once it appears. Incorporating some of these simple yet effective habits into your routine can make a big difference in your skin’s health.

• Remove makeup and cleanse before bed: Dirt, bacteria, and makeup can accumulate on your skin throughout the day. Washing your face at night with the right cleanser for your skin is essential in preventing clogged pores and breakouts. Herrington suggests looking for a cleanser that is gentle on the skin and will avoid irritation and inflammation. “Ideally, a cleanser should be free of oils and other harsh chemicals. Additional facial products to target acne are best utilized after cleansing when makeup and dirt are stripped away, and you don’t risk drying the skin,” she says.
• Use the right skincare products: Opt for skincare products that won’t clog your pores and are formulated specifically for your skin’s needs. For those who do experience moderate to severe acne, be careful not to over-wash your face. This can dry out your skin, prompting your body to produce more oil.
• Avoid oils if you’re prone to breakouts: If you’re sensitive to oils, using them on your skin or hair may worsen acne. Try oil-free alternatives if you notice flare-ups.
• Adjust your diet: Cutting out or limiting inflammatory foods like gluten, dairy, sugar, or other processed foods can help. Incorporate more fruits and vegetables, especially leafy greens, and those high in vitamin C and beta carotene, which support skin health. HUMs Skin Squad is great for those easily affected by breakouts due to digestion issues. The supplement works as a pre-and probiotic to help balance your gut microbiome, which, as a result, can help clear cystic acne.
• Reduce stress: Stress management techniques like yoga, meditation, or even a good night’s sleep can help regulate cortisol levels, reducing acne flare-ups.

How to Treat Acne

If you’re already experiencing breakouts, don’t worry—there are plenty of ways to treat acne effectively. However, keep in mind that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Different types of acne require different treatments, so it may take some trial and error to find what works best for you. Herrington recommends “products containing Salicylic acid to exfoliate pores, niacinamide to shrink pores, and oil-free moisturizers [which] can help treat acne. Retinol creams can also be extremely beneficial for acne and signs of aging. Active blemishes can be protected with pimple patches.”

• Over-the-counter (OTC) treatments: Many mild cases of acne today can easily be treated with OTC products. Look for ingredients like benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid to treat active breakouts and prevent new ones from forming.
• Professional treatment: For more severe or persistent acne, a dermatologist may recommend stronger medicines such as prescription medications or antibiotics. These can help regulate oil production and reduce bacteria and inflammation.
• Avoid certain products during pregnancy: If you’re pregnant, acne treatments like retinoids, salicylic acid, and isotretinoin should be avoided due to potential risks to the baby.

Key Acne Treatment Ingredients 

• Adapalene: A type of retinoid that prevents follicular blockage and reduces inflammation
• Azelaic acid: Works to fight acne while also helping fade dark spots that might still be visible from previous acne.
• Benzoyl peroxide: This popular ingredient is effective but can be drying and irritating. It’s recommended to start with a lower concentration, slowly increasing the dosage as needed.
• Salicylic acid: An exfoliant that helps unclog pores and reduces the buildup of dead skin cells
• Sulfur: Dries out active blemishes and removes dead skin cells to prevent them from clogging the skin
• Birth control: For some women, birth control can regulate hormones, which in turn can improve acne

Sudden adult acne can be frustrating, especially if you never had to deal with it as a teenager but keep in mind that acne usually means there’s an underlying issue. Fortunately, understanding the root causes can help you prevent and treat breakouts. The best thing you can do to avoid acne is to maintain proper skin care habits, make lifestyle adjustments, and understand that breakouts sometimes just happen (regardless of your hygiene or routine). It’s always a good idea to consult a dermatologist for persistent or severe cases to find the best treatment plan for your specific needs. Regardless, taking control of your skincare health takes time and a lot of patience to see what works for you, but it is a manageable condition.

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