Adult acne (American Academy of Dermatology)

Tier 1: Established: peer-reviewed research or government health authority
Publisher: American Academy of Dermatology · Published: August 19, 2026 · Accessed: August 19, 2026

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Claims this source supports

• Some adults continue to get acne well into their 30s, 40s, and even 50s, and it is possible to get acne for the first time as an adult (adult-onset acne).
• Adult-onset acne is most common among women going through menopause, and women tend to get adult acne more often than men.
• Fluctuating hormone levels can lead to breakouts; women often experience fluctuating hormones around their periods, during pregnancy, during peri-menopause and menopause, and after discontinuing (or starting) birth control pills.
• In response to stress, the body produces more androgens (a type of hormone), which stimulate the oil glands and hair follicles in the skin and can lead to acne.
• If you have adult acne, look for 'non-comedogenic', 'non-acnegenic', or 'oil-free' on moisturizer, cleanser, sunscreen, and all other products; these are least likely to cause acne.
• Sometimes acne is a sign of an underlying medical condition; once the condition is diagnosed and treated, the acne often clears.
• Effective treatment is available for adult acne; a dermatologist will often use two or more treatments, and with a dermatologist's help virtually every case of acne can be controlled.