Adult Acne: Causes, Treatments, and the Truth Behind the Breakouts

June is Acne Awareness Month, and at Verse Medical Aesthetics in Guildford, we’re here to separate myths from science. Adult acne is common, treatable, and often misunderstood. In this guide, we explore causes, evidence-based treatments, diet tips, and the newest options like hyperdiluted Botox—alongside answers to trending Google questions.

What causes acne in adults?

Hormones, stress, and skin barrier damage are common culprits.

Adult acne is not simply “leftover teenage skin.” It is a chronic inflammatory condition driven by hormonal shifts, stress, barrier dysfunction, and gut imbalance. Recent evidence shows that androgens and IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor 1) are key contributors, often amplified by diet, stress, and systemic inflammation.

Common triggers include:

• Hormonal fluctuations (perimenopause, PCOS, contraceptive changes)

• Sebum overproduction driven by IGF-1

• Harsh skincare routines disrupt the barrier

• Gut dysbiosis and systemic inflammation (Li et al., 2024)

🔗 Learn more about IGF-1 and acne on Wikipedia

What treatments are effective for adult acne?

Evidence-based skincare, peels, and personalised plans work best.

One-size-fits-all won’t cut it. At Verse, we offer tailored acne treatment plans supported by peer-reviewed evidence and personalised assessments.

Our treatment options include:

• Enerpeel® SA or JR: Salicylic acid or resorcinol-based peels that exfoliate gently while preserving the skin barrier.

• Medik8 BHA or clarifying peels: Ideal for sensitive or rosacea-prone skin with acne crossover.

• 30% Azelaic acid peels: Shown to reduce inflammation and improve pigmentation (Feng et al., 2024).

• LED Therapy: Blue and red light to reduce Cutibacterium acnes and calm inflammation (JCAD, 2024).

• Hyperdiluted Botulinum Toxin A: Reduces sebum in oily-prone areas like the T-zone (Facial Acne Management Review, 2024).

• Barrier-first skincare: Lipid-rich products (SkinMed/Medik8) to restore hydration and reduce transepidermal water loss.

📍 Explore our acne treatment options
📎 Enerpeel SA clinical evidence – SkinMed UK

Before and after photo of Enerpeel treatment for adult acne on the cheeks

Will adult acne go away on its own?

Not always. Addressing the root cause is key.

Adult acne rarely resolves without targeted treatment. Delaying care can increase the risk of:

• Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH)

• Scarring

• Chronic inflammation and flare cycles

Can Botox help with acne?

Yes—hyperdiluted Botox can reduce oil production in the skin.

New evidence supports the off-label use of Botulinum toxin type A for acne and facial seborrhea. When injected intradermally in low doses, it modulates sebaceous gland activity, making it ideal for clients:

• With oily T-zones or forehead congestion

• Who cannot tolerate antibiotics or retinoids

• Seeking subtle textural improvement

  📎 Review: Facial Acne Management and Sebum Reduction with BoNT-A (2022)

How to treat acne scars after breakouts

From peels to microneedling, scarring is treatable.

Scarring can be physical (ice pick, boxcar, hypertrophic) or pigment-related (PIH). We offer:

• Enerpeel JR or TCA Touch peels

• Microneedling (when suitable)

• Pigment-safe actives (kojic acid, azelaic acid)

• LED therapy to support healing and reduce inflammation

Adult acne and dry skin — can they co-exist?

Yes, and often indicate a compromised barrier.

If acne-prone skin feels tight or flaky, barrier repair is needed. We use:

• Ceramide and fatty acid-rich skincare

• Gentle exfoliants and low-irritation peels

• Custom prep and post-treatment regimens

  Adult acne vs rosacea: what’s the difference?
  

Learn to tell them apart to get the right treatment.

Many clients confuse rosacea with acne. Here’s how to spot the difference:

• Rosacea includes redness, flushing, and broken capillaries

• Acne features blackheads, whiteheads, and cysts

• Both can coexist, especially in fair or sensitive skin types

Papulopustular rosacea and acne can look similar.Papulopustular Rosacea on the Cheek

(Source: Clinical Case Study)

What you're seeing:
This image shows papulopustular rosacea, a common subtype of rosacea often confused with acne. It features persistent redness, visible capillaries, and clusters of red papules and pustules—but importantly, no blackheads or whiteheads.

Unlike acne, rosacea:

• Is confined to the central face (cheeks, nose, chin, forehead)

• Is triggered by heat, alcohol, spicy food, stress, or sunlight

• Often affects people with fair, reactive, or sensitive skin types

🔥 Key diagnostic clue: Rosacea lacks comedones and usually comes with diffuse flushing and burning, especially after trigger exposure. Acne treatments can often make rosacea worse, so proper diagnosis is key.

At Verse Medical Aesthetics, we treat rosacea gently with barrier-repairing skincare, LED therapy, and calming topicals designed to reduce redness and flare-ups without disrupting your skin barrier.

📍Book a consultation if you're unsure your breakouts are rosacea, acne, or both.

Acne Vulgaris on the Cheek (Source: DermNet NZ)

What you're seeing:
This image shows inflammatory acne vulgaris—a common skin condition driven by blocked pores, excess oil, and Cutibacterium acnes bacteria. Lesions often include comedones (black and whiteheads), papules, pustules, and nodules or cysts in more severe cases.

Unlike rosacea, acne can affect:

• The jawline, cheeks, chest, and back

• Clients with oily skin or hormonal imbalances

• Teens, young adults, and perimenopausal women

🔬 Key diagnostic clue: The presence of comedones is what helps differentiate acne from rosacea. In-clinic treatments like chemical peels, LED therapy, and barrier-first skincare can significantly reduce inflammation and prevent scarring.

📍Book a skin consultation at Verse Medical Aesthetics in Guildford to find the right evidence-based solution for your acne type.

Low-glycaemic, anti-inflammatory diets can support acne improvement — especially in Western populations.Low-glycaemic, anti-inflammatory diets are acne-friendly.

Diet alone won't cure acne, but evidence strongly suggests that high-glycaemic foods and dairy products can worsen acne in genetically predisposed individuals, particularly among Westernised populations. These foods increase insulin and IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor 1), which stimulate sebaceous gland activity and inflammation.

✅ Eat more of these:

• Omega-3-rich foods (salmon, walnuts, chia seeds) – anti-inflammatory

• Zinc-rich foods (pumpkin seeds, lentils) – supports immune balance

• Fermented foods (kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi) – gut-skin axis support

• Low-GI fruits and vegetables – reduce insulin spikes

🚫 Avoid or limit:

• Cow’s milk, especially skim milk and whey-based protein shakes

• High-GI foods – white bread, sweetened drinks, sugary snacks

• Whey and casein protein supplements – shown to increase IGF-1

These insights are supported by systematic reviews and clinical trials showing a modest but consistent improvement in acne when switching to a low-glycaemic-load diet. Notably, dairy’s role in acne seems more pronounced in Western diets compared to non-Western ones.

📚 Read full review: Meixiong et al., 2022 – Diet and Acne

When should you seek professional help for acne?

If acne is persistent, scarring, or affecting your confidence—don’t wait.

We offer:

• In-depth diagnostic skin assessments

• Treatment plans tailored to your skin type, age, hormones, and pigmentation risk

• Medical-grade skincare, prescription treatments, and in-clinic solutions

📍 Verse Medical Aesthetics — Guildford, Surrey 📞 +44 7476 695696 📧 marta@versemedicalaesthetics.com

✨ ✨ We specialise in natural-looking rejuvenation using Medik8 — for women in Surrey who want to glow without overdoing it.

Just 3 minutes from Guildford Station, Verse Medical Aesthetics offers expert-led skin treatments with real results and zero stress.