What Age Do You Typically Get Acne and When Does It Go Away?

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Newborn Acne

Childhood Acne

Preteen Acne

Teenage Acne

Adult Acne

In Older Adults

Does Age Matter?

How to Get Rid of Acne

From newborn to older adult, acne can break out at any age. And while it’s most common in adolescence and early adulthood, you never outgrow acne. Many factors play into why someone experiences acne.

Newborn Acne (Neonatal Acne)

Babies can be born with acne.Newborn acneis any acne that develops before 6 weeks old. It typically appears on the nose and cheeks. Forehead acne, back acne, chin acne, scalp acne, and chest acne can also occur. About 20% of newborns have neonatal acne—and it’s generally nothing to worry about.

Acne in Kids (Ages 1–7)

Acne in kids ages 1 to 7 is said to be very rare. It may be nothing to worry about, but experts recommend consulting with a type of hormone specialist called anendocrinologist.They can rule out possiblehyperandrogenism (androgen sex hormone condition).

What Is Acne Vulgaris?

Preteens (Ages 7–12)

Early acne treatment at this age can help prevent preteen acne from worsening. Acne treatments include medicated cleansers or a benzoyl peroxide cream (5% strength) in more severe cases.

Why Tweens Get Acne and How to Treat It

Teens

Teens are more likely to experience acne breakouts than other age groups. Around 85% of teens may experience acne on the face and also on the neck, back, shoulders, and chest.Types of acne can include whiteheads, blackheads, pimples, and cystic acne or painful, pus-filled acne.

How Long Does a Pimple Last?Experts say that without any treatment, it typically takes two months for a pimple to develop from a clogged pore and back to clear skin again.

How Long Does a Pimple Last?

Experts say that without any treatment, it typically takes two months for a pimple to develop from a clogged pore and back to clear skin again.

Adults

Adults in their 30s and 40s get acne, too. Some people even experience acne for the first time in adulthood.Acne treatment often includes more than one approach. Healing time varies depending on the cause.

Older Adults

Adults in their 50s and older can also experience adult acne. The same contributing factors to adult acne affect older adults. However, older-adult acne is most common in those going throughmenopause.

Causes of Acne in Older Women

Does Acne Stop With Age?

Acne does not stop with age. It’s actually quite common to have persistent adult acne.Stopping acne comes down to finding the right treatment based on the type of blemish, its cause, and your age.

During the very early years, this means leaving acne to resolve on its own. As children age, consulting with a dermatologist may be necessary to rule out other health conditions or find the right treatment.

Other Contributing Factors

Other contributing factors include:

If you think your acne is a side effect from medication, consult with your prescribing healthcare provider.

How to Get Rid of Pimples for Clearer Skin

Experts at the American Academy of Dermatology suggest the best ways to get rid of acne and prevent new breakouts. For age-specific recommendations, consult with a dermatologist.

Tips for getting rid of acne:

Don’t Pop PimplesThe desire to get rid of acne can cause some people to pop pimples or scrub their face vigorously—both of which will only worsen skin irritation. The best method for treating acne is to wash affected areas with oil-free skin care products.

Don’t Pop Pimples

The desire to get rid of acne can cause some people to pop pimples or scrub their face vigorously—both of which will only worsen skin irritation. The best method for treating acne is to wash affected areas with oil-free skin care products.

Types of Pimples and How to Treat Them

Summary

Acne can happen at any age. In many cases, it’s nothing to worry about and will resolve on its own or with treatment. In some cases, acne may be a sign of underlying health conditions, especially those affecting hormones. Other contributing factors include puberty, hormonal changes, stress, family history, cosmetics, and medication side effects.

Treatment varies depending on age, but general tips include being gentle with your skin care routine—both in terms of using gentle, noncomedogenic products, and in washing gently to avoid further skin irritation.

8 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

DermNet.Acne in children.

American Academy of Pediatrics.Teens and acne treatment.

American Academy of Pediatrics Healthy Children.Teen acne: How to treat & prevent this common skin condition.

American Academy of Dermatology.Adult acne.

Harvard Health.Adult acne: Understanding underlying causes and banishing breakouts.

American Academy of Dermatology.Can the right diet get rid of acne?

American Academy of Dermatology.Acne: Overview.

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