Lauren A. Fine, MD, a dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon at The Derm Institute of Chicago.
Hillary Johnson-Jahangir, MD, PhD, a dermatologist in Coralville, Iowa, and a delegate for the American Academy of Dermatology Association.
Acne doesn’t just affect teenagers
“While we commonly imagine teens and young adults as the ages with acne, acne vulgaris can continue or start in older adulthood,” Dr. Johnson-Jahangir said, noting “it can change with age due to flux in hormone balances.

“Older individuals are also more likely to develop a different form of acne called acne rosacea that comes with different triggers and treatments,” she added.

Many things can cause acne
“With patients who are seeing me for more moderate, severe forms of acne, there’s a good chance that one of their parents or family members has also suffered from acne,” Dr. Fine said, noting “we know that there are a lot of associations and things that may make you more predisposed to getting acne.”

For example, “at the more cellular level, we know that acne develops from the actual clogging of the pore or excessive oil production,” she said. “And once that pore is clogged and there’s excessive oil, that can be a perfect breeding ground for bacteria to grow within the sebaceous gland.