In this article:
What causes adult blemishes?
Adult blemishes vs. adolescent and teen blemishes
How to treat adult blemishes
Daytime anti-blemish and anti-ageing skin care routine
Nighttime anti-blemish and anti-ageing skin care routine
How long do adult blemishes last?
How to prevent adult blemishes
Some might not view blemishes and adulthood as two sides of the same coin, but for a growing number of adults, it is (1). Pair blemishes with the signs of ageing your skin experiences in adulthood and you’ve got a conundrum.
We know choosing skin care products for blemishes or signs of ageing is challenging enough when you're dealing with one or the other. But when you're struggling with both at the same time, it can be maddening. That’s why we’re walking you through the causes of adult blemishes, prevention tips and treatment-focused anti-ageing and anti-blemish skin care routines below.
What causes adult blemishes?
This might be a surprise, but the main causes of adult blemishes are the same as those of adolescent blemishes. When it comes down to it, a mix of overactive sebaceous glands (they make sebum, a component of skin’s oil), clogged pores and a bacteria known as Cutibacterium acnes cause blemish flare ups in both adults and teens. Ultimately, whether you’re in your teen years or well into adulthood, blemishes are a multi-factorial issue that can include culprits from family history to changes in hormone levels.
Although the causes of adult and adolescent breakouts are the same, its classifications are slightly different. Adult blemish occurrences often fall into two camps: adult-onset blemishes and persistent blemishes. Persistent blemishes are described as more of a continuation of a condition from adolescence into adulthood or a return to the blemish-prone skin experienced during puberty. Adult-onset blemishes occurs in those 25 years of age or older who’ve never experienced breakouts before.
Adult blemishes vs. adolescent and teen blemishes
Adult and teen blemishes are often presented as two separate occurrences. However, as you saw above, the causes of adult and teen blemishes are largely the same! This revelation might have you scratching your head wondering, “So, what’s the difference between adult and teenage blemishes?”
There are a few differences, let’s outline them:
- Skin concerns. Adults experiencing skin concerns related to blemishes are also often addressing other concerns related to ageing and environmental damage. Tackling blemishes and wrinkles at the same time can be tricky, but we outline how to a bit further down!
- Age. Adult blemishes are technically classified as occurring in those 25 years of age or older.
- Location on the body. Adult blemishes most commonly appear on the lower half of the face, whereas teenage blemishes tend to play out on the T-zone and cheeks (2).
- Gender proliferation. During adolescence, blemishes impact males and females about equally, however, adult blemishes impact women far more often than men (2). The main reason? Hormone levels fluctuate more throughout a woman’s life whereas male hormones tend to stabilise for several decades post-adolescence.
- Smoking. A study published in 2018 displayed that amongst a group of adults with blemishes, those who smoked were more likely to have blemishes than their smoking teenage counterparts (2).
Something else to note is that a history of blemishes or blemishes experienced in adulthood can help your skin delay visible signs of skin ageing. Early research suggests that the connection between blemishes and delayed skin ageing is due to excess sebum production (which provides skin with vital moisturising and nourishing substances).
How to treat adult blemishes
Treating adult blemishes requires a different approach than what you took back in high school. So, ditch the drying, astringent toners and put your toothpaste back in your medicine cabinet.
This might leave you thinking, “What can you do to tackle adult blemishes?” Addressing blemish-prone skin and wrinkles at the same time can be challenging, but we have the solution.
The fundamental answer to this dilemma is to use a mix of products for blemish-prone skin (that won’t worsen visible signs of ageing) and anti-ageing products (that won’t make blemishes worse). Believe it or not, such products do exist!
The anti-blemish products you choose must be formulated to be gentle, non-drying and skin softening, yet still highly effective against blemishes. The best anti-blemish products are formulated with blemish-busting benzoyl peroxide and clog-removing beta hydroxy acid (BHA, AKA salicylic acid).
The powerhouse anti-ageing products you use must have fluid, lightweight textures without any pore-clogging ingredients and should include multi-tasking antioxidants, like vitamin C and vitamin A (AKA retinol and retinoids). Other top anti-ageing ingredients for blemishes and signs of ageing include peptides, niacinamide and azelaic acid.
This sounds great, but how can you apply this info to your everyday life and incorporate it into your daytime and nighttime skin care routines? We’ve got you. Find optimal anti-blemish and anti-ageing skin care routines below:
Daytime anti-blemish and anti-ageing skin care routine
- Cleanse skin with a non-irritating face wash for blemish-prone skin. Gently removing oil and debris is vital for blemish-prone skin, as we know excess sebum can cause pimples.
- Exfoliate with a BHA leave-on chemical exfoliant. BHA’s not only oil-soluble, which is best for getting into pores and helping remove debris that would go on to exacerbate blemishes, it’s also soothing and helps thin thickened oil! Opt for a regular-strength BHA exfoliant for everyday use or an extra-strength BHA exfoliant for severe blemishes or particularly stubborn blemishes. Start slowly (every other day) and increase usage after noting skin’s response.
- Apply an anti-ageing treatment. If your main anti-ageing related concern is dullness and an uneven tone, look for a brightening anti-ageing vitamin C serum. Do wrinkles and fine lines bother you most? Try a firming, hydrating peptide booster. Enlarged pores? A niacinamide product is the perfect choice! Note: it’s OK to layer such treatments if you have multiple concerns.
- End your daytime skin care routine with a lightweight oil-free moisturiser with SPF. Sun damage is pro-ageing and can worsen the look of post-blemish marks and prolong their fading. Protecting skin with a moisturising broad-spectrum sunscreen with a lightweight, liquid texture can provide adequate hydration while also helping prevent dark spots and visible signs of ageing.
Nighttime anti-blemish and anti-ageing skin care routine
- Cleansing at nighttime is incredibly important to remove daily debris and effectively wash away sunscreen and makeup. Use the same non-irritating anti-blemish cleanser you use during your daytime routine at nighttime, too.
- Exfoliate with your leave-on BHA exfoliant if your skin responds well to twice daily usage.
- Apply a benzoyl peroxide treatment to all blemish-prone areas. Benzoyl peroxide is the gold standard blemish-fighting ingredient because it immediately targets the source of blemishes (3). Begin with a lower strength (2.5%) and see how your skin responds before moving to the higher strength (5%) option. Note: “A small subset of patients, particularly those with darker skin tones, can be intolerant to benzoyl peroxide,” says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Corey L. Hartman. “If the skin burns immediately after application and redness develops, perhaps benzoyl peroxide is not for you.” A great alternative? Azelaic acid, which is also aces for reducing redness.
- Apply a retinoid treatment that tackles both ageing and blemish concerns. Retinoids encourage cell turnover and some can help reduce clogs and the look of wrinkles as well as increase firmness, which tends to decrease with age. In order to not overload skin with active ingredients, apply a retinoid treatment on days that you’re not applying your benzoyl peroxide treatment. Much like with BHA exfoliants, limit initial usage to three times a week and, if skin responds well, work up to once-a-day usage. “It can also be helpful to apply the retinoid in conjunction with a moisturiser initially to avoid unnecessary irritation,” comments Dr. Hartman.
- Finish up with a lightweight oil-free moisturiser specifically formulated to hydrate without clogging pores.
How long do adult blemishes last?
Adult blemishes can appear at any life stage and don't necessarily have a cure but can be successfully managed. This can take trial and error, with some adult blemish cases only lasting a week and others stretching on for months. You may also be one of those adults who will always be dealing with some amount of blemishes, in which case it can really help to seek dermatologic intervention (and rule out any underlying hormonal issues).
On the upside, most people who follow a consistent anti-blemish skin care routine will see visible improvements in as little as a few weeks (usually 4–6) with clearing usually occurring after 2-3 months (4). If your adult blemishes are stubborn, seek out the advice of your dermatologist.
How to prevent adult blemishes
Experiencing adult blemishes can feel isolating and helpless; however, there are things you can do to decrease your likelihood of adult blemishes and reduce blemish frequency and severity.
Here’s how to prevent adult blemishes:
- Use gentle, fragrance free skin care and makeup products. If you have oily or blemish-prone skin, avoid heavier ingredients like waxes, saturated oils (hello, coconut) and emollients, too!
- Stay consistent with your skin care routine. You’ve heard it 100 times but let this be your 101st: consistency is key when it comes to fighting blemishes. Dr. Hartman echoes this sentiment, “The best products in the world don’t matter if they aren’t applied consistently.”
- Avoid applying hair oils, pomades and gels close to the face. The emollient, heavy ingredients in these hair care products can clog pores.
- Monitor your diet’s impact on your skin. Research suggests that milk proteins can be linked to blemishes (5).
- Minimise stress and rest up. There’s a proven connection between stress and blemishes. Maybe now’s the time to take up that hobby you’ve been meaning to or to work a nap or two back into your routine.
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References for this information:
- Dermatology Times, October 2022, pages 19-20
- Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, January 2018, pages 21-25
- Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, June 2013, pages s73-s76
- American Academy of Dermatology Association, Accessed June 2024, Webpage
- American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, August 2020, pages 55-65