Adult acne is common, especially in women, and typically settles along the jaw and chin. Hormonal fluctuations, stress and some cosmetics keep the same pore-blocking cycle running that drives teenage acne — which is why it can continue, or first appear, well into your twenties and thirties.
Plenty of people expect acne to end with their teens — and are caught off guard when it doesn’t, or when it turns up for the first time in their twenties. If that’s you, you’re in good company: adult acne is common, especially among young adults, and it isn’t a sign you’ve done something wrong.
Why acne continues (or starts) in adulthood
The hormones that drive acne don’t switch off at a set age. Natural hormonal activity keeps oil glands busy, pores still get blocked, and the same chain that causes teenage acne carries on. For many people it simply continues into their twenties; for some, it appears for the first time as an adult.
How adult acne often differs
Adult acne tends to show up a little differently from the classic teenage pattern:
- More often along the jawline, chin and lower face.
- Frequently deeper and more tender — the kind under the skin rather than surface whiteheads.
- Often follows a cyclical or hormonal pattern, flaring at particular times.
What can influence it
Hormones lead, but everyday factors can nudge it along — stress, sleep, sweat, some pore-clogging cosmetics, and picking (which can leave marks that outlast the spot). Working out your own pattern is something a doctor can help with.
The good news: it’s treatable
Adult acne responds to medical treatment. A doctor assesses how severe it is and builds a plan around it — which may include topical treatments and, where appropriate, prescription oral treatments, decided together with you. As with any acne, treating it earlier lowers the chance of lasting marks and scars.
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Frequently asked questions
Why do I still have acne in my 20s? Because hormones keep oil glands active well beyond the teenage years — it’s common and treatable.
Is adult acne different from teenage acne? It often sits lower on the face, can be deeper, and may follow a hormonal pattern — but the underlying cause is similar.
Should I see a doctor or wait it out? If it’s persistent, deep, leaving marks, or affecting your confidence, it’s worth seeing a doctor rather than waiting.
Related reading: Why does acne happen? · Acne that won’t clear up? When to see a doctor · Skin at Belief Medical
Written by Dr Sam Lua, Belief Medical — a private GP and aesthetic practice in Singapore. About the practice. Last reviewed: August 2026.
