I was never someone who struggled with acne growing up, but throughout my late twenties, my skin has been waging a war against breakouts. “Adult acne is rarely random,” Dr Aliaa Ahmed, aesthetic doctor at Harley Street Dermal, says. “Lifestyle factors like lack of sleep, overuse of harsh actives, frequent product switching, and even gut health can all contribute,” she adds
The science behind adult acne is the same as teenage acne – think clogged pores from excess oil, dead skin and hormonal changes that increase sebum productions. “In your 20s and 30s, flare-ups are often driven by hormonal shifts, particularly around the menstrual cycle, pregnancy or coming off contraception.” Stress and cortisol play a huge role too, Dr Ahmed explains, as they increase oil production and inflammation. “We also see a lot of acne triggered by barrier damage from over-exfoliation or aggressive at-home devices.”
