Teenagers often experience a multitude of skin problems, with acne being a major one, and expect these to disappear once they reach adulthood. However, adults also suffer from similar issues, but it is important to be aware of the differences so that you can tailor your treatment options to exactly what your skin needs.
Teen Acne vs Adult Acne
While acne can be caused by everything from genetics to stress, hormones are usually what play the biggest part in breakouts. When it comes to teen acne, this is usually triggered by puberty, as the sebaceous glands start producing so much more oil, and breakouts tend to appear on the cheeks and the forehead. While adult acne is also caused by hormonal activity, this is usually caused by the decrease in cell turnover, as this means that oil builds up within the skin, leading to inflammation and breakouts. The breakouts will also usually appear on the chin and around the mouth, rather than the forehead and cheeks.
The Difference in Treatment Options
Many people believe that acne is acne, and so the treatment options for an adult and a child should be the same. However, this is not true, as skin ends up thinning out with age, meaning that a teenager will have much thicker skin than an adult. This means that the strong products that may be perfect for banishing breakouts on teenage skin will be far too harsh for adult skin, and can actually cause even more issues.
Treatment Options
There are many over-the-counter acne treatments out there, but these are usually designed for treating teen acne rather than adult acne. Benzoyl peroxide is great for treating acne, but while teens can get away with using a 10% benzoyl peroxide formula, adults should try to stick to a product that contains just 3% of this ingredient. The same applies to salicylic acid, which is usually sold as a 2% formula for teen acne, whereas adults should try to seek a formula that contains 0.5% salicylic acid. However, when it comes to natural treatments, there is not as big of a difference between adults and teens. Tea tree oil is a good example of this, as it can really help to reduce breakouts and cleanse the skin, and adults and teens can use the same product.
Preventing Breakouts
While there may be a few differences between adult and teen acne, adults and teens can still take similar steps to prevent future breakouts. These include regular cleansing, especially when you have been sweating, as well as stopping yourself from touching your face too much, as this transfers any dirt or bacteria from your hands to your face, leading to an increase in breakouts. You should also use makeup and products that will not clog your pores, and try to ensure that your shampoo and conditioner does not come into contact with your face, as this is often the cause of breakouts along the hairline.
Acne is never fun to deal with, no matter what age you may be. However, you do need to take your age into account when seeking out treatment options, as you need to ensure that the method that you are choosing really is what is best for your skin.
