New Year, Clear Skin: 7 Tips for Managing Adult Acne

Acne wasn’t supposed to follow you into your 30s and 40s, but here you are dealing with breakouts well into adulthood. The benzoyl peroxide wash that cleared your skin in high school just doesn’t cut it now — it might even irritate your skin — and you’re growing increasingly frustrated at seeing angry red bumps when you look in the mirror.

At Saluja Cosmetic and Laser Center in the Lake Norman area in Cornelius, North Carolina, Raminder Saluja, MD, and our team treat adult acne using advanced medical technologies that address both active breakouts and the scarring they leave behind. Here, we discuss what triggers adult acne, why home treatments may not help, and seven tips to manage it.

Understanding adult acne and what causes it

Acne develops when oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria clog your pores. While the basic mechanism stays the same throughout your life, adult acne typically shows up differently than adolescent breakouts. Teenage acne tends to affect your forehead and cheeks, while adult acne commonly affects the chin and jawline with deeper, more painful bumps.

Common types of adult acne

Your breakouts might include several different types:

• Comedones, like blackheads and whiteheads from clogged pores
• Inflammatory papules that appear as red, tender bumps
• Pustules filled with pus
• Deeper nodules and cysts that form beneath the skin’s surface

These different forms often appear together, creating a mix of surface blemishes and deeper inflammation that requires multiple treatment approaches.

What triggers adult acne

Several factors contribute to persistent breakouts in adulthood:

• Hormonal fluctuations from menstrual cycles, pregnancy, or menopause
• Stress that increases cortisol and oil production
• Certain medications including corticosteroids
• Heavy or pore-clogging skincare products

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, adult acne affects up to 15% of women, with hormonal factors playing a major role in flare-ups.

Why home treatments often fall short

Drugstore acne products work for mild, surface-level breakouts. They can’t reach deeper inflammatory acne or address the underlying causes that keep triggering new blemishes. 

Adult acne often requires stronger intervention because over-the-counter (OTC) ingredients aren’t potent enough to penetrate deep cysts or regulate oil production effectively. Your skin also becomes more sensitive with age, making harsh benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid treatments irritating without being effective.

7 effective acne remedies for clearer skin

Dr. Saluja combines professional treatments with lifestyle modifications to help you achieve lasting results.

1. Start with a professional skin analysis

Dr. Saluja examines your skin to identify acne type, triggers, and appropriate treatment options. This evaluation determines which combination of therapies will work best for your specific breakouts.

2. Consider prescription medications

Topical retinoids, oral antibiotics, or hormonal treatments target acne at its source. These medications regulate oil production, reduce inflammation, and prevent new breakouts from forming.

3. Try Cold Atmospheric Plasma (CAP) therapy

CAP is a noninvasive treatment that uses ionized gas to destroy acne-causing bacteria, reduce inflammation, and balance oil production without heat or downtime.

4. Explore AdvaTx laser treatment

The dual-wavelength laser targets sebaceous glands to decrease oil production while calming inflammation. AdvaTx treatments require no recovery time and work well for patients with rosacea or sensitive skin.

5. Use Sylfirm X for active breakouts

This dual-wave radiofrequency technology addresses both active acne and early scarring by reducing inflammation and stimulating healing at the dermal level.

6. Establish a gentle skincare routine

Switch to noncomedogenic products that won’t clog pores. Look for ingredients like niacinamide that calm inflammation without stripping your skin’s protective barrier.

7. Make dietary adjustments

Reducing high-glycemic foods and dairy can help some people manage breakouts. Keep a food journal to identify potential triggers that worsen your acne.

Preventing and treating acne scars

Acne creates scars when inflammation damages collagen in the dermis. Picking or squeezing blemishes increases this risk, and deep cysts and nodules are most likely to leave permanent marks. Several treatments improve acne scarring:

• Medical microneedling with EXCEED creates controlled microinjuries that stimulate collagen production
• Scarlet RF and ZenTite™ microneedling deliver radiofrequency (RF) energy to remodel scar tissue
• Tetra CO₂ laser resurfacing removes damaged skin layers for smoother texture
• PicoSure® addresses pigmentation and redness left behind by healed acne

These procedures work best after active breakouts are under control. Treating ongoing acne first prevents new scars from forming while existing ones heal.

Achieve clearer skin in Charlotte and Lake Norman, NC

Managing adult acne requires the right combination of medical treatments and skincare strategies. At Saluja Cosmetic and Laser Center, we create personalized treatment plans that address your specific triggers and skin concerns.

Call our Cornelius, North Carolina office at 704-584-4071 today or request an appointment online to start your path toward clearer skin this year.