The treatments for adult acne are very similar to the treatments for teenage acne with a few caveats.
Over-the-counter, the best treatments are still adapalene, salicylic acid, and benzoyl peroxide.
Adult acne refers to individuals that develop acne over the age of 25. The major difference between adolescent and adult acne are summarized in the table below:
Kutlu Ö, Karadağ AS, Wollina U. Adult acne versus adolescent acne: a narrative review with a focus on epidemiology to treatment. An Bras Dermatol. 2023 Jan-Feb;98(1):75-83. doi: 10.1016/j.abd.2022.01.006. Epub 2022 Oct 14. PMID: 36253244; PMCID: PMC9837660.
Adult acne is more common in women and tends to be more inflammatory and located on the lower half of the face. Hormones play a role in all forms of acne but, in adult acne, treatments to normalize hormone levels can be helpful. Talk to your dermatologist about options such as oral contraceptives and spironolactone, which have been shown to be effective in some women.
