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HOW TO FIGHT TEEN AND ADULT ACNE
Acne affects up to 95% of teens and 15% of adults. Adult and teen acne have different causes, symptoms and approaches in treatment. To help you out, MÁDARA Skin Café beauticians share everything you should know about teen and adult acne and, most importantly, how to get it under control.
Why acne, why me?
If you’ve struggled with acne, you are probably familiar with these questions, which occur every time you see yourself in the mirror. The “bad” guy – Cutibacterium acnes (formerly Propionibacterium acnes) – lives on everyone’s skin, but it only becomes “active” when oil build-up and improper skin cell turnover creates an ideal environment in which bacteria can multiply.
Causes of acne
The 4 key factors that trigger acne:
Excess oiliness | Hormonal imbalance that raises oil production
The mix of dead skin cells and oils that clog pores | Bacterial growth
Disbalanced skin microbiome is another significant factor that contributes to the pathogenesis of acne.
But not only that, acne could also be written into your DNA, and inherited from the family.
Acne treatments
Acne can be mild, moderate or severe. Mild to moderate acne can be successfully managed with a regular skincare routine (with a strong emphasis on REGULAR) and appropriate products, meanwhile more severe cases often require medical treatment, such as taking topical and/or oral antibiotics and retinoids.
All acne treatments need time to show the results. The improvement typically can be seen 4–6 weeks after the beginning of a new skincare regimen or treatment. It is also typical that acne gets worse after starting a new treatment before it gets better.
“It typically gets worse before it gets better.”
Acne scarring
Depending on the severity of the acne, breakouts can leave permanent scars on the skin. Early acne treatment is very important as it reduces the risk of scarring. Laser therapy can be used to minimise the appearance of scars and reduce the severity of acne.
“Early treatment reduces the risk of scarring.”
Teen Acne
Why do so many teens experience acne?
The main cause of teen acne is too much oil in the skin. With puberty on the way, a steep incline in hormones causes sebum production to soar. Androgens, male hormones present in both boys and girls, cause an overly oily complexion. All the excess oil mixed together with dead skin cells form a plug within the pore that is a trap for bacteria.
How does teen acne differ from adult acne?
Acne in younger years is more inflammatory than in adulthood. High oil production is a dreamland for blemishes like blackheads, whiteheads, pustules and cystic acne. Acne manifests on the back, chest, upper arms and, of course, the face. Boys typically experience more severe forms of disease, while females typically show milder forms of acne.
How do you manage teen acne?
To manage teen acne, it is important to follow a regular skincare regimen, both morning and evening. It means that you should never ever skip it (your acne-fighting essentials go to festivals and parties with you). Proper skin cleansing twice a day, oil-absorbing masks and lightweight skin hydration are the key to clearer skin. Avoiding harsh cleansers and overly drying products is important too.
Adult Acne
Why does acne appear during adulthood?
Stress, hormonal cycles and an unhealthy diet appear to be the driving factors for adult acne. Stress can overdrive the adrenal glands, which boosts oil production and sets the stage for acne development. Sugar- and carbohydrate-rich diet can also contribute to acne. Sugar can make our skin produce more oil. Another contributing factor is the ageing process itself. With age, cellular turnover slows down. Oily complexion combined with slower cellular turnover and slower dead cell desquamation can clog pores and increase the risk of blemishes.
How does adult acne differ from teen acne?
While teenage acne “respects” gender equality and affects girls and boys in a similar proportion, adult acne is mostly predominant in females. Compared to the younger population, adults experience milder forms of acne such as comedones, and inflammatory lesions. The breakouts are usually located around the jaw, mouth and chin.
Persistent vs. late-onset acne
There are two variations of acne cases for adults – persistent and late-onset. Persistent acne is a continuation or relapse of the disease from adolescence into adulthood, whereas the second type is patients aged 25 years and older who have not previously suffered from acne vulgaris.
How do you manage adult acne?
A well-balanced routine with gentle cleansing, peeling and hydration is the key to keeping both acne and ageing under control. Adult skin can be more fragile and sensitive than teen skin, and it dries out more quickly. Avoid drying products, as dehydration causes discomfort and contributes to ageing. Hydrating serums and lightweight age-defying moisturisers should be used in the morning and evening. Regular at-home AHA peels will accelerate cellular turnover and unclog pores, improve the skin tone, as well as smooth and reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Microbiome balancing ingredients such as probiotics or fermented ingredients have been shown to be effective in harmonising the bacterial composition.
CHOOSE YOUR ROUTINE
Teen acne 5-step routine
1. Cleanse
Thing to try: Purifying Foam.
Apply every morning and night to remove makeup and impurities.
2. Balance
Thing to try: Clarifying Toner.
Apply a pore-refining toner.
3. Deep cleansing
Thing to try: DETOX Ultra Purifying Mud Mask.
Apply a deeply cleansing or exfoliating mask once a week.
4. Control with anti-acne products
Thing to try: ACNE Acute Spot Roll-On, ACNE Intense Blemish & Pore Treatment.
5. Moisturise
Thing to try: Deep Moisture Gel.
Apply oil-free, non-comedogenic formulas.
CHOOSE YOUR ROUTINE
Adult acne 5-step routine
1. Cleanse
Thing to try: Purifying Foam.
Apply every morning and night to remove makeup and impurities.
2. Balance
Thing to try: Balancing Toner, INFINITy Mist Probiotic Essence .
Balance the skin with a probiotic mist or gentle toner.
3. Peel
Thing to try: Brightening AHA Peel Mask.
Apply 1–2 times a week to remove dead cells, defy ageing and brighten skin tone.
4. Control with anti-acne products
Thing to try: ACNE Acute Spot Roll-On, ACNE Intense Blemish & Pore Treatment.
5. Moisturise
Thing to try: the oil-free Time Miracle Hydra Firm Hyaluron Concentrate Jelly.
Choose a mattifying moisturiser that hydrates the skin well and limits the oiliness.
Which MÁDARA skincare products will be best for your skin type and concerns?
Chat with our professional beauty therapist via WhatsApp.
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