Cringing at a new outbreak of pimples the morning before the big meeting? Heart sinking in front of the mirror at the sight of red sores that just won’t clear up? You’re definitely not alone. Adult acne is one of those rare traces of teenhood that many adults can’t shake.
A common misconception is that acne isn’t normal in adulthood. “There's this pervasive idea that acne is only for teenagers, but it's really not,” says Ainah Tan, a dermatologist in Illinois who specializes in adult acne.
Social media, she says, has made matters worse, with an influx of photo filters that create the illusion of flawless skin. “There's a lot of pressure, especially in my female patients,” she says. “They feel like they should have grown out of this acne.” She tells her patients that even Kylie Jenner uses a filter.
A number of factors affect the likelihood of being stuck with the pesky condition: age, genetics and hormone levels, to name a few. The good news is, there are ways to minimize the likelihood of getting it, and even a few effective remedies that might eliminate it in the long haul.
