How to treat acne according to your age

have you been acne prone teenager or now you are an adult prone to acne, the fight against acne is difficult. Ahead Skincare.com spoke with a consulting dermatologist Rita Linkner, MD, Spring Street Dermatology Certified Dermatologist and AcneFree Partner Hadley King, MD, about what causes acne at different ages and best acne treatment try whether you are 13, 30 or older.

Best acne remedies for teens

If your teenage acne isn't too severe, Dr. King recommends a three-step acne treatment kit such as AcneFree Oil-Free 24-Hour Cleansing System. “This kit is a great choice for treating acne with products that include salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide because salicylic acid can penetrate pores and gently chemically exfoliate—dissolving sebum to prevent and treat clogged areas,” she says. . Benzoyl peroxide is beneficial because it contains properties that help kill acne-causing bacteria.

If you don't see any improvement, your best bet is to head to your nearest dermatologist's office (in person or virtually). According to Dr. Linkner, "Accutane is what I most often use to treat teenage acne, and oral vitamin A is a way to help treat teenage acne, which usually has a strong genetic component and requires oral treatment." There are even antibiotic options to help soothe those stingy, cystic acne. If you qualify for any of these treatments, your doctor will let you know.

Best acne remedies for adults in their 20s and 30s

When you're in your 20s or 30s, hormones are often the cause of persistent acne, says Dr. Linkner. "In women with cystic acne, spironolactone helps mediate sensitivity to the male hormone testosterone, which all women have, which can cause persistent acne on the jawline during menstruation." Spironolactone is a prescription drug that requires constant use, but its close to 80% effectiveness makes it a great option if you have hormone-related rashes. For less severe cases, "acne spot treatment is the gold standard in trying to prevent surface acne from forming," says Dr. Linkner. If you need a recommendation, we love Kiehl's Breakout Control Targeted Acne Treatment, which is made up of the mineral sulfur to help reduce blemishes without overdrying the skin, and vitamin B3 to brighten the complexion.

It is also important to note that in home care, the softer the better. "When you're in your 20s or 30s, your skin may be less oily than when you were in your teens, so some people may need gentle products to avoid irritation," says Dr. King. If this sounds familiar, try ingredients that hydrate and soothe with lower percentages or less irritating forms of active ingredients, such as SkinCeuticals Blemish Age + Protection.

Treatment of acne in adults aged 30 years and older

If you're over 30, Dr. Linkner recommends an oil-free cleanser high in salicylic acid, such as La Roche-Posay Effaclar Acne Cleanser. “I also advise my patients to use prescription retinoids for topical use at night as they help exfoliate the skin and do wonders for acne and also have an anti-aging effect,” she notes. For your own home regimen, she recommends a glycolic acid-based retinol product such as Neova Intense Retinol Spray. We also like CeraVe Retinol Repair Serum.

Dr. King adds that in addition to retinol, if you prefer spot treatment, try AcneFree Terminator 10. “This product contains 10% microbenzoyl peroxide, which has acne-fighting properties, combined with soothing ingredients such as chamomile, ginger, and sea stem,” she says. These supplements are recommended because they are milder and not as strong or irritating as other acne-fighting ingredients.

The non-comedogenic way

Regardless of your age, using non-comedogenic products in your daily skin care routine is the key to keeping your skin blemish-free. This means you want to look for products that don't irritate, moisturize sensitive or dry skin, and have a "non-comedogenic" label to ensure they don't clog pores. “Two tint products with SPF that I like for daily use are Revision Skincare Intellishade TruPhysical Broad Spectrum SPF 45 и SkinMedica Essential Defense Mineral Shield Broad Spectrum SPF 32' says Dr. King. “They are both 100% mineral with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, and both have a very nice light texture with a clear finish.”

How to know if your home acne treatment is working

"It's important to use over-the-counter products regularly, as directed, for at least a month to be able to evaluate how well they work," says Dr. King. “At this point, if you don’t feel a noticeable reduction in clogged pores and pimples, your best bet is to see a dermatologist.” Your dermatologist can then evaluate your skin and tell you if prescription drugs or blue light therapy is needed for treatment.