Skin & Complexion
Acne that persists or begins after adolescence, often with recurring lower-face breakouts.
Physician-led assessment · individualized care · Vancouver clinic
Understanding Adult Acne
You thought breakouts were behind you, and then they start showing up along your jaw and chin, often around the same time each month. Adult acne is really common, and it often surprises people who had clear skin as teenagers.
It tends to look a little different from teenage acne: fewer surface spots, more deep, tender bumps on the lower face, and skin that's often drier and more sensitive. Hormones usually play a big part, which explains both where breakouts settle and why they can follow a cycle. Adult skin does best with a gentler, more tailored approach than the products that worked at sixteen. Adult, teenage and hormonal acne overlap a lot, so you may recognize yourself in more than one pattern.
Causes and Contributing Factors
As in younger people, adult acne begins with blocked follicles, oil, bacteria, and inflammation, but hormonal influences are often prominent, which is one reason breakouts frequently settle along the lower face and jawline. Stress, certain medications, occlusive or oily products, and family tendency can play a role. Less commonly, hormonal conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome contribute, particularly when acne appears with other symptoms.
Signs and Symptoms
Assessment
At your visit, we talk through where and when your breakouts appear, how severe they get, the skincare and makeup you use, any medications, stress, and your menstrual or hormonal history where it's relevant. Sometimes we'll suggest hormonal or other testing. Hormones, products and medications can all cause a similar lower-face pattern, so we work out what's behind yours and build a plan around your skin, your routine and your budget.
Cosmetic consultations are complimentary.
Prevention and Ongoing Care
Adult skin often does best with fewer, well-chosen products. A gentle cleanser, a light non-comedogenic moisturizer and daily sunscreen form the base, and targeted ingredients such as retinoids or azelaic acid can be added at a pace your skin enjoys. Reviewing makeup and hair products for pore-clogging ingredients can make a real difference too.
We'll help you put a routine together, and you'll find our recommended products in the online shop.
Treatment Options
These are some of the options connected to this concern. The appropriate plan depends on assessment, suitability, and your goals.
Your plan depends on how severe the acne is, how sensitive your skin is, and whether hormones are involved. Medical Acne Skincare gives you a routine built on evidence-based ingredients chosen for adult skin, and our physicians can add topical or oral prescription therapies, including hormonal treatment where it suits you.
For in-clinic care, Active Acne Treatment can include AviClear, which calms the oil glands behind acne, and Forever Clear BBL, both delivered by our senior laser technicians under the medical direction of Dr. Gidon Frame. We'll also look at your products and triggers, and because adult skin can be more sensitive, we build treatments up at a pace it tolerates well.
A physician-guided program to reduce active breakouts and calm excess oil and inflammation, combining in-office and medical options selected after assessment.
A physician-guided topical and skincare program using evidence-based ingredients to help control acne, oil, inflammation and post-acne marks.
For the fuller picture, explore the treatment pages above or discuss the options during a consultation.
Medical Assessment
See a doctor when acne appears alongside irregular periods, excess hair growth or other hormonal symptoms, when a medication may be contributing, or when breakouts are deep, painful or starting to scar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Adult acne often appears for the first time in your twenties, thirties or later, usually influenced by hormonal changes, stress, products or medications. Breakouts along the jawline and chin are a common sign that hormones are involved. We'll help you pin down what's behind yours at your consultation.
Yes, it can be. We choose ingredients and in-clinic treatments with sensitivity in mind and build them up gradually so your skin stays comfortable. If something feels too strong, we adjust your plan.
Sometimes. When acne comes with symptoms such as irregular periods or excess hair growth, our physicians may look into a hormonal cause. On its own, adult acne is usually a skin condition that responds well to the right plan, and a consultation can give you peace of mind.
Physician Assessment
An assessment can help clarify what may be contributing, which options may be appropriate, and what a reasonable next step could look like for you.
Visit Our Clinic
Anti-Aging Medical & Laser Clinic combines medical assessment, individualized planning, physician oversight, and a broad range of treatment options in its Vancouver clinic.
Bring your questions, treatment history, and goals. Your provider can help you understand appropriate options, expected recovery, and realistic outcomes.
Make an Appointment
Use our consultation form below and the clinic can guide you toward the appropriate starting point.
