Acne in adult and teens can be embarrassing. The effect that it has on any adult or teenager can disturb the psychological and social functioning of the person. Oftentimes, teenagers seek the advice of the adults on how to get rid of their acne. However, the cause of adult and teen acne is different, so treatment will also be different. If there’s one thing common in both types of acne, it is the fact that acne has to do with clogging of the skin pores.

More or Less

The main cause of acne development is hormonal imbalance. During puberty, the teenager produces androgen hormones. The androgen hormones cause the body to stimulate oil or sebum production. If the body has more androgen hormones, more sebum clogs the pores and teen acne break out become a nuisance.

Adults, on the other hand, have deficient hormones in the body especially progesterone. At a certain point in adult’s life, the progesterone level decreases. Diet and busy lifestyle are also among the reasons for lowered progesterone levels. The Dermatology Times noted that deficiency in this important hormone can also trigger the overproduction of oil by the sebaceous glands.

It’s all about balance, like the yin-yang principle. If the body maintains a normal level of androgen and estrogen, the skin reflects a smooth and blemish-free complexion. The body needs a balanced hormone levels to avoid adult and teen acne. A rise or fall in major body hormones can bring a noticeable effect on a person’s skin.

Same Cure Won’t Do

A misconception exists when adults treat their acne as they treat teen acne. What may be effective acne treatment in your youth can not be used to cure your adult acne. You may have popped your pimples when you were just 13 years old and it disappeared, but extracting your pimples with your bare hands may just worsen the problem if you’re 55. In your teen, common acne problems are whiteheads and black heads but adult acne includes papules, pustules and cystic nodules where clogging of the pores are skin deep. This was what Dr. Brandith Irwin emphasized in a WebMD interview.

Over-the-counter treatments are available to treat acne. Teens can try various topical creams and find out what is effective to them. However what worked for teen acne like benzoyl peroxide may be too harsh for an adult’s sensitive skin and may result to dryness. Adult skin needs skin products that include moisturizer or soother. If acne is caused by progesterone deficiency, progesterone cream can be used. Experimenting with treatment for adult acne is risky, so a prescription from your dermatologist is an easier option. Doctors usually suggest an aggressive approach to adult acne. Unlike teens that can still outgrow their acne, adults can be affected by acne even in their senior years.