Acne Cut

Acne Basics

Why do people get acne in adulthood?

Drafted with AI assistance · not reviewed by a dermatologist · Published August 2, 2026 · Last updated October 5, 2026

Short answer

Acne often carries on past the teenage years or starts later, and in adults it is more common in women [1][2]. Hormone changes are a common trigger, along with some medical conditions, some medicines and greasy skin products [2][3].

How settled

Well established

What we read

  1. Collier CN, J Am Acad Dermatol 2008
  2. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, Acne: overview, symptoms and causes
  3. NHS, Acne
  4. Magkou S, Hormones (Athens) 2026
  5. Peng H, J Ovarian Res 2026
  6. Augustin M, J Dtsch Dermatol Ges 2026
  7. Reynolds RV, J Am Acad Dermatol 2024
  8. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, Acne: diagnosis, treatment and steps to take
A white jar, two amber dropper bottles and folded towels on a white shelf
A jar, two amber dropper bottles and towels. AI-generated illustration.

How common adult acne is

Folded towels, a white tube and a small white dropper bottle on a tiled counter
Towels, a tube and a small dropper bottle. AI-generated illustration.

Acne is often thought of as a teenage problem, but it frequently continues into adulthood. The US National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases notes that most people's acne settles by their thirties, that some people still have it in their forties and fifties, and that acne in adults is more common in women [2].

A 2008 survey of 1,013 adults at a US university campus and medical center gives a sense of scale. In every age group from 20 up, women were more likely than men to report having acne: 50.9 percent of women in their twenties, 35.2 percent in their thirties, 26.3 percent in their forties and 15.3 percent aged 50 or older, against 42.5, 20.1, 12.0 and 7.3 percent of men [1].

The survey relied on people's own sense of whether they had acne rather than an examination by a doctor, so the exact figures are rough, but the pattern was consistent across all four age groups [1].

Paired bar chart: share of women and men reporting acne by age. 20 to 29: 50.9% of women, 42.5% of men; 30 to 39: 35.2% and 20.1%; 40 to 49: 26.3% and 12.0%; 50 and older: 15.3% and 7.3%.
Share of adults who said they had acne, by age, in a 2008 survey of 1,013 adults. Self-reported, not examined. Source 1.

Hormones are the usual driver

The oil glands that feed acne respond to androgens, hormones that rise in both boys and girls at puberty and make the glands larger and more productive [2]. Changes in hormone levels later in life can set acne off again: the NHS lists periods, pregnancy and menopause among the common triggers [3].

Sometimes adult acne is a sign of a wider hormonal condition. Higher androgen levels can show up on the skin as acne, extra facial or body hair, and thinning scalp hair, and a 2026 review notes that these skin signs are often the first clue that something hormonal is going on [4]. One such condition is polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, or PMOS, the new name for what was called polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS); the NHS lists it among the causes of acne [3][5].

Medicines and products

Some medicines can cause acne. NIAMS names medicines that contain hormones, corticosteroids and lithium [2], and the NHS also lists taking certain medicines as a cause [3]. If acne started soon after a new medicine, it is worth mentioning to the doctor who prescribed it rather than stopping it on your own.

Skin and hair products that leave the skin greasy can also play a part [3]. NIAMS suggests oil-free cosmetics labeled noncomedogenic, meaning they are made not to clog pores, while noting that even these can make acne worse in some people [2].

Things that make it worse

Several things do not cause acne but can aggravate it. NIAMS lists stress; pressure from sports helmets, tight clothes or backpacks; pollution and high humidity; squeezing or picking spots; and scrubbing the skin too hard. It adds that some studies suggest certain foods may make acne worse, and that research on diet is continuing [2].

Family history matters as well: researchers believe you may be more likely to get acne if your parents had it [2].

Is adult acne different?

Doctors sometimes call acne in adults acne tarda. A 2026 consensus of German dermatologists notes that most authors define it as acne in women aged 25 and older, that definitions and age groups vary between studies, and that current guidelines rarely address adult acne specifically [6].

In practice, the treatments are largely the same ones used at any age. The American Academy of Dermatology's 2024 guideline makes strong recommendations for benzoyl peroxide and topical retinoids, and conditional recommendations for hormonal options, combined oral contraceptive pills and spironolactone, which are typically used in women [7][2].

Day-to-day care that helps

Alongside treatment, NIAMS suggests a few simple habits. Wash gently with a mild cleanser in the morning, in the evening and after heavy exercise, rinse with lukewarm water, and avoid strong soaps, astringents and rough scrub pads [8].

Avoid touching, squeezing or picking spots, which can leave scars or dark marks. If you shave, use a sharp blade, soften the hair first, and shave gently and only when needed so you nick fewer spots. Use sunscreen and avoid sunburn, because many acne medicines make the skin burn more easily [8].

Acne in adulthood can be embarrassing or make people anxious, and NIAMS encourages raising those feelings with a doctor too [8]. Treating it is a reasonable thing to ask for at any age.

When to see a doctor

It is worth seeing a doctor if acne has not improved with treatment you have tried yourself, if spots are deep, painful or leaving scars, or if acne is affecting how you feel [3]. A doctor may ask about your periods and the medicines you take, and may order tests to check whether another condition is behind the acne [8].

That is especially worth doing if adult acne arrives with other signs of high androgen levels, such as new facial hair or thinning scalp hair, because the skin is often where those conditions first show [4].

The four evidence labels used on Acne Cut, with “Well established” highlighted for this article.
This article's label: Well established. The labels describe the research, not how likely something is to work for you.

Sources

  1. Collier CN, Harper JC, Cafardi JA, et al. The prevalence of acne in adults 20 years and older. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2008;58(1):56–59. PubMed 17945383
  2. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Acne: overview, symptoms and causes. NIH, last reviewed July 2023; accessed October 5, 2026. Read it
  3. NHS. Acne. Page last reviewed September 22, 2026; accessed October 5, 2026. Read it
  4. Magkou S, Sali E, Paschou IA, et al. Skin manifestations of hyperandrogenism: an update. Hormones (Athens). 2026. Online ahead of print. PubMed 42082890
  5. Peng H, Jiang J, Wang Z, et al. Anti-androgen therapy in polyendocrine metabolic ovary syndrome (PMOS, formerly PCOS). J Ovarian Res. 2026. PubMed 42482267
  6. Augustin M, Dirschka T, Gerber PA, et al. Acne tarda: recommendations for classification, treatment and care as a result of an expert discussion. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2026;24(1):11–22. PubMed 41351204
  7. Reynolds RV, Yeung H, Cheng CE, et al. Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2024;90(5):1006.e1–1006.e30. PubMed 38300170
  8. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Acne: diagnosis, treatment and steps to take. NIH, last reviewed July 2023; accessed October 5, 2026. Read it

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