What can cause adult acne?
December 12, 2025Acne: What to Do When It Doesn’t Subside
December 12, 2025Acne is considered the quintessential skin disease of adolescence, as the majority of boys and girls develop it after the age of 11.
It is estimated to affect approximately 85% of adolescents and usually subsides in the early years of adulthood. However, there is a percentage of 12% of adults, mainly women, who have acne either as a continuation of their teenage acne or because it appeared at an older age, even after the age of 30.
As Dr. Markos Michelakis, Dermatologist–Venereologist (Aesthetic Dermatology–Dermatosurgery), explains, acne is an inflammatory skin disease that occurs when the skin’s natural oil, sebum, clogs the tiny hair follicles and thus the pores.
«The result of this blockage is the creation within the pores of ideal conditions for the growth of Cutibacterium acnes, leading to pimples, “whiteheads,” or even cystic acne that many patients experience,» he says.
Excess sebum production, rapid hormonal increase during adolescence, hormonal fluctuations during and after adolescence, emotional stress, and genetics are factors that may influence acne, he adds.
However, although acne is so common and often very severe, many still consider it insignificant and not in need of medical evaluation, thinking it is just a temporary condition of adolescence. Others believe it is caused by diet or poor hygiene and that it can be resolved through thorough cleansing and sun exposure.
These misconceptions, however, are nothing more than obstacles to proper treatment, and the consequences can be very serious, scientists from the University of Hong Kong wrote a few months ago in the scientific journal Clinical Dermatology Review.
«Underestimating the severity and progression of acne can delay treatment, while misinterpreting its causes may lead to unnecessary and disruptive lifestyle changes,» the scientists note in their article. «Moreover, unrealistic expectations from treatment lead to dissatisfaction, which can reduce adherence to therapy. Therefore, public health actions, public education, and research are required to eliminate these misconceptions.»
The consequences of delays
What can be the consequences of delayed acne treatment? The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recently published a related list.
- Longer treatment duration. Acne treatment takes time, regardless of its severity. However, when acne is left untreated for a long time and the patient visits a dermatologist with widespread whiteheads, inflamed pimples, and deep-seated cysts, it will take longer to eliminate them.
- More scars. Timely acne treatment can prevent scar formation. The general rule is that the more severe the acne, the more likely scars are to form, and mild acne is more likely to leave scars if the patient “picks” at the pimples. The most pronounced scars are usually left by cystic acne and pimples infected by dirty hands.
- More hyperpigmentation. When a pimple or acne cyst clears, a dark mark may remain on the skin if the natural skin tone is medium to dark. This mark is called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and is essentially a lesion caused by increased melanin production (the pigment of the skin). Similarly, those with fair or light skin may see a reddish hue on their skin. These lesions can persist for months, and many acne sufferers consider them worse than the pimples themselves.
- Mild acne progressing to severe. Early treatment can prevent a few pimples from developing into widespread and deep, painful acne.
- Stronger treatment. When acne becomes severe, stronger medications are required to clear it. These medications have more potential side effects and require close monitoring by the dermatologist, meaning more office visits and blood tests.
- Prolonged acne. Acne usually begins in adolescence or even preadolescence. Timely treatment and keeping symptoms under control can prevent future flare-ups, significantly reducing the number of years the adolescent will struggle with it. In contrast, delayed treatment is in many cases the reason why people in their 30s, 40s, or 50s still have acne today.
- Increased emotional stress. Acne affects not only the skin but also the adolescent’s psychology. Many patients feel their self-esteem decline after its appearance, and some feel so bad that they isolate themselves from their social environment.
It is important to note that acne does not need to be severe for an adolescent to develop emotional stress because of it. Studies have shown that even mild acne causes suffering in many adolescents. In extreme cases, adolescents may develop depression, which can sometimes be severe.
Fortunately, timely treatment can alleviate these symptoms, but this requires that the child be examined by a dermatologist to propose the appropriate therapy.
«For all these reasons, the evaluation of the adolescent by a dermatologist should not be delayed,» emphasizes Dr. Michelakis. «And if parents are concerned about potential medication risks, they should discuss the matter with the dermatologist and not with the neighbor or friends.»
https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/acne-and-rosacea/early-treatment-best-option-for-acne
https://miamicenterfordermatology.com/blog/consequences-untreated-acne/
