While teenagers are the group best known for having acne, with reports of 70 to 87 percent of teens experiencing the condition, adults can get it too.
Particularly young adults, as roughly three quarters of people between 11 and 30 experience acne at some point. They may also have scars from acne in their youth that continue to affect them well past the point when they’ve stopped having breakouts.
The Canadian Dermatology Association tells us that “Acne is the most common skincare problem seen by doctors,” and according to the American Academy of Dermatology, “acne can occur at any age.” Men, women, and newborns can all get acne. While biological sex is a factor for when you’re likely to get acne, everyone suffers. Adult acne is more common in women than men due to estrogen (and “up to 1 in 5 women in Canada” experience adult acne), but young men are more likely to have acne for longer. In a recent study by The Journal of Women’s Health, of those women studied, “45% [ . . . ] aged 21–30, 26% aged 31–40, and 12% aged 41–50 had clinical acne.” Another study found that, out of 1013 participants 20 and over, 15.3% of women over 50 and 7.3% of men reported having acne. People in their fifties and above can get acne, so if you’ve past your teens and are still enduring the discomfort and embarrassment of acne, you’re not alone.
Acne is understandably distressing for many people, given that while it isn’t dangerous, it is uncomfortable—sometimes painful—and damages the skin. According to the Mayo Clinic, “The earlier you start treatment, the lower your risk of lasting physical and emotional damage.”
There are many treatment options available. The Canadian Medical Association Journal writes that “[f]irst-line treatments for acne are topical,” but “[t]he response to most oral and topical medications for acne is usually seen after at least 6 weeks of treatment”. There are also physical treatments available, including comedone extraction, chemical peels, microdermabrasion and photodynamic therapy. For acne scarring, laser treatment is a common choice.
Are You Suffering from Acne?
If you’re suffering from acne or acne scarring and you’re near Barrie, Collingwood or Muskoka Ontario, The Royal Centre of Plastic Surgery can help. We offer chemical peels, microdermabrasion, and laser therapy for your acne.