Seagak Station Dermatology Acne Treatment Hospital: How Is Adult Acne Different from Teenage Acne?

It is easy to think of acne as a skin problem that only appears briefly during puberty and then passes, but in reality, it is a skin condition that can keep recurring even after becoming an adult, becoming a long-term concern.

In particular, while acne during the teenage years often appears mainly on areas with lots of sebum, such as the forehead and nose, after becoming an adult it often appears repeatedly in the lower part of the face, such as around the chin, mouth, and jawline.

Because of this, many people wonder, “It feels different from the acne I had before,” or “Why does it keep appearing only in the same area?”

Adult acne often does not settle down easily with simple sebum control alone, and recurrence patterns can appear as lifestyle habits, skin barrier condition, and hormonal changes also affect it.

That is why adult acne needs to be examined separately from teenage acne.

Today, at a dermatology clinic near Saetgang Station, I will explain the differences between adult acne and teenage acne, and why treatment and care may need to go together.

-Column order from the Saetgang Station dermatology clinic-

1. Why adult acne is different from teenage acne

2. Common everyday causes when adult acne keeps recurring

3. Adult acne treatment: why is care important?

Why adult acne is different from teenage acne

Teenage acne is known to be mainly caused by the rapid hormonal changes that begin with puberty.

During this period, sebum secretion becomes more active, pores are more easily clogged, and an environment where acne bacteria can multiply is created.

As a result, it is common to see both whiteheads and inflammatory acne mainly on the forehead, nose, and cheeks.

On the other hand, adult acne is different from teenage acne.

It often appears concentrated in areas such as the chin, around the mouth, and the jawline, where repeated friction can occur or where hormonal changes have an effect.

Acne in these areas often progresses relatively deeply, and it is not uncommon for red marks or pigmentation to remain for a long time.

In other words, it can be helpful to understand adult acne as a sign that the environment, rather than the skin itself, has become unstable, which can help determine the direction of treatment.

Adult acne

Common everyday causes when it recurs

When adult acne does not calm down easily and keeps recurring, daily habits often affect it as well as the skin condition.

One of the most common causes is cleansing.

If you wash your face several times a day because you are concerned about sebum, or if you use products with strong cleansing power, the skin barrier may instead be damaged and the skin may become more sensitive.

Also, the habit of touching acne with your hands or squeezing it yourself can cause it to recur.

In particular, acne around the chin is an area that your hands unconsciously touch often, so it is repeatedly irritated, which can even lead to damage to the surrounding tissue.

Such irritation can remain as pigmentation or scars even after the acne has calmed down.

Friction caused by wearing masks is also one of the factors that can worsen adult acne.

As moisture, sweat, and sebum inside the mask repeatedly build up, the pores can swell around the area and inflammatory responses can be easily activated.

Because of this, existing acne can last longer, or new acne can reappear in the same area.

In addition, lack of sleep, stress, and frequent late-night snacks or sugar intake can disrupt the skin’s renewal cycle and create an environment where acne can easily recur.

Therefore, in acne treatment, it may be necessary to check not only skin care but also daily rhythms.

Adult acne treatment,

Why is care important?

One part that many people tend to overlook in adult acne treatment is that the visible symptoms and the condition inside the skin can be different.

Even if the visible red inflammation has decreased, sebum or inflammation may still remain inside the pores.

If treatment is suddenly stopped in this state, after some time acne may recur in a similar area.

That is why, for adult acne, it is important to take an approach that stabilizes the skin environment rather than treating it only when breakouts appear.

It may be necessary to continue using ointments suited to the skin type for a certain period, and, if needed, to help the skin restore its balance by combining inflammation control with pore and dead skin cell care.

When this flow is maintained, the vicious cycle of recurring acne can gradually decrease.

Also, during the treatment process for adult acne, it is not uncommon for improvement and stagnation to alternate.

Because it is a condition greatly affected by skin condition and daily rhythm, it is helpful to consistently manage it and observe the progress.

Adult acne is not simply a skin problem caused by having too much sebum; it is a skin condition that appears when factors such as skin barrier condition, lifestyle habits, skin renewal cycle, and hormonal changes all have an effect.

In particular, unlike teenage acne, if it keeps recurring in specific areas such as the jawline and around the mouth, or if the inflammation becomes deeper and leaves marks for a long time, it may be necessary to check the skin condition once.

The more this happens, the more important it is to calmly examine why it keeps recurring and to continue lifestyle management along with treatment.

I hope the information about adult acne shared today was helpful to you.

Thank you for reading to the end.

| This post was written for the purpose of providing information in compliance with Article 56, Paragraph 1 through Paragraph 15 of the Medical Service Act. All treatments carry the risk of side effects and complications depending on the individual. Before treatment, be sure to have a thorough consultation with a medical professional with extensive experience before making your decision. |