Teen + Adult Acne - What's the Difference?

“You will never be this young again” and “Remember when you prayed for what you have now” are just a couple of the inspirational quotes circulating on social media that remind us of our age, and all that goes with it. These thoughts apply to our skin, too.

Skin changes as we age, and so do our skincare needs. It’s not optimal for adults to use the same products as teens, especially when addressing acne. What’s the difference?

Acne is the primary skin concern for most teens. Teens and young adults have more hormone activity than adults (aka “raging hormones”), producing more oil. So, they’re more likely to have severe acne, and it most commonly pops up around the forehead and nose (T-Zone) or all over the face. But younger skin is also more resilient and has faster cell turnover, and collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid are all at their peaks (lucky teens!). 

Adult acne is based more on cyclical hormones, especially in women. It appears more commonly around the jawline, mouth and chin area (U-Zone). Plus, skin cells turn over more slowly as we age, leading to clogged pores. 

Adults have other concerns as time starts to wreak havoc on skin. As we age, we start to notice a certain a deepening of the “smile” lines between the nose and mouth, and expression lines around the eyes. Adults produce less collagen and elastin so skin can appear to “sag” or “sink.” Skin is drier since we also produce less oil as we age. The moisture barrier gets compromised over time. All of this leads to skin being less resilient and more sensitive. The sun’s UVA rays trigger our natural defense and we produce melanin, eventually resulting in brown spots and uneven tone. 

Luckily, we can address the visible signs of aging and the complexities of adult acne with the right skincare Regimen. And since 40% of adults have some form of acne, they have to pay attention to both acne and their other concerns, like fine lines, wrinkles, loss of firmness and elasticity, and discoloration. 

INTRODUCING THE FUTURE OF DERMATOLOGY-INSPIRED ACNE CARE

So, it makes sense that teens and adults should take care of their acne — and their skin in general — differently. Rodan + Fields has introduced two new acne-fighting Regimens, one for each group.

The new SPOTLESS Regimen is specifically designed for teens and young adults. SPOTLESS delivers more oxygen and Benzoyl Peroxide deeper to the pores to kill acne bacteria starting Day 1. It also reduces the appearance of oiliness and shine. And it’s just two steps, so it’s easy to use — a good thing for teens and young adults. 

The UNBLEMISH Regimen has been reformulated to address adult acne and visible signs of aging. This four-step Regimen gently and effectively helps clear acne and prevents future blemishes while it visibly smooths, firms and improves the appearance of uneven skin tone for clearer, healthier, younger-looking skin. 

Though we can’t change everything that time does - we can address skin concerns, including acne and visible signs of aging, at any age.