Top 5 Questions Dermatologists Hear Most: Adult Acne And Treatment Methods

Hello, I am Dr. Lee Sang-ju, a board-certified dermatologist. Acne is often thought of as exclusive to adolescents during puberty. However, according to one statistic, one in three adults in Korea suffers from acne. Many people are struggling with adult acne, more than you might think. Today, I will thoroughly answer your questions related to adult acne.

Acne is no longer just a problem for teenagers. As mentioned earlier, one in three adults in Korea experiences discomfort due to acne. Adult acne can arise from various causes and may affect one's quality of life.

The fundamental causes of puberty acne and adult acne are not significantly different. However, there are a few characteristic differences.

• Causes: Puberty acne is largely influenced by hormonal changes. In contrast, adult acne is known to be closely related to stress hormone changes caused by stress, in addition to other hormones.
• Affected Areas: While puberty acne typically appears in the T-zone (forehead, nose) where sebum secretion is high, adult acne tends to occur more often in the U-zone (chin, jawline, around the mouth), where sebum is less abundant.

Occasionally, people ask if adult acne lasts a lifetime. While some may experience acne into their 40s and beyond, it generally tends to decrease with age.

Adult acne itself may not be a major problem. However, if you have polycystic ovary syndrome, adult acne is often accompanied, so it is advisable to consult a specialist if you have related symptoms.

Generally, when it comes to acne treatment, many people think of medication, extractions and management, and inflammatory injections. These basic methods can be effectively applied to adult acne as well.

However, if these methods are not sufficient, advanced treatments such as Gold PTT or photodynamic therapy may be considered.

Gold PTT and photodynamic therapy not only eliminate acne bacteria, which are a fundamental cause of acne, but also shrink sebaceous glands, showing excellent efficacy in treating adult acne. Furthermore, they have the advantage of long-lasting treatment effects.

There are the following differences between the two treatments:

• Photodynamic Therapy: You should avoid sunlight for about two days after the procedure.
• Gold PTT: It has the advantage of allowing an immediate return to daily life with no downtime.

As mentioned, adult acne is closely related to stress. Therefore, the methods for preventing adult acne are not significantly different from those for maintaining overall health.

Reducing stress, engaging in regular exercise, and maintaining healthy eating habits are very important not only for mental health but also for skin health.