Adult acne is nothing to be ashamed of

The impact acne can have on your mental health is a lot to take on, but it's important to remember that there is no shame in adult acne.

Skincare expert Eavanna Breen has stressed that educating people about acne is far more important than shaming them.

Acne is well known for its damaging impact on confidence and mental health. While it typically first appears during the teenage years due to hormonal changes, leading most to associate it with adolescence, it’s also a common concern for adults.

Breakouts can emerge unexpectedly in a person’s 20s, 30s, 40s, and beyond, often inducing profound distress and frustration. The teenage skin association undoubtedly makes things a lot harder. 

While adult acne can understandably trigger a range of insecurities, it’s crucial to educate the public about the facts.

It is particularly around late-onset breakouts and the many modern factors that can contribute to them.

So, what’s behind the rise in adult acne?

According to skin expert Eavanna Breen, a combination of lifestyle and environmental triggers is often to blame:

Hormonal fluctuations, especially during perimenopause

Chronic stress and inconsistent sleep patterns

Diet, gut health, and imbalances in the skin microbiome

Overuse of harsh skincare, including aggressive anti-ageing products

Eavanna says: “Unlike teenage acne, adult acne often appears as deeper, cystic breakouts around the jawline, chin, and cheeks, sometimes coupled with redness, pigmentation, and scarring.”

Clients often flock to Eavanna’s clinic in search of a remedy for breakouts, feeling embarrassed and confused regarding the unwanted blemishes on their skin.

Eavanna believes that by educating people on how the breakouts can form, we can best tackle the issue. 

“In the case of mild acne, looking at diet, nutrition, and skincare routine can be all that is required to rectify the situation. In more severe cases, antibiotics, the pill, or acne medications such as Roaccutane, combined with the correct skincare routine, can be the most effective avenue to take. If your acne is acute, it is important to discuss all options with your GP before starting any program.”

"Acne in adulthood is often more than just skin deep. It hugely impacts self-confidence, mental health, and how people show up in the world. We need to stop treating it as a teenage problem and start supporting it as the chronic condition it can be.”

Eavanna hopes to create an awareness that acne in adulthood is common and it's nothing to be embarrassed or ashamed of. With proper skincare and treatment, acne can be tackled. 

"What I see every day in the clinic are women in their 30s, 40s, even 50s, who feel embarrassed to still be dealing with breakouts. The truth is, adult acne is incredibly common.”

“We need to shift the narrative. Acne is not a sign of poor hygiene or bad habits. It’s a complex condition influenced by hormones, stress, and skin barrier health. Education, not shame, is the way forward.”