Adult Acne

Adult acne is a common inflammatory skin condition that can develop well beyond the teenage years, including in people who have never previously experienced persistent breakouts. It can affect confidence as well as skin health, particularly when repeated inflammation leads to pigmentation, uneven texture or acne scarring. Acne develops when hair follicles and pores become blocked by excess sebum, dead skin cells and other debris, with inflammation and changes in the skin’s microbial environment contributing to spots and deeper lesions.

It can appear on the face, jawline and neck, as well as the chest, shoulders and upper back, and may present as blackheads, whiteheads, inflamed papules, pustules, nodules or deeper cystic lesions, with deeper inflammation carrying a greater risk of scarring. Breakouts concentrated around the chin and jawline are particularly common in adults and may sometimes be associated with hormonal fluctuations.

At 111 Harley St., we take a personalised approach: rather than treating every breakout in the same way, we assess your skin, the type and severity of acne, potential contributing factors and any existing scarring or pigmentation before recommending a treatment pathway. Importantly, active acne and acne scarring are not treated in exactly the same way, where active breakouts are present, controlling inflammation and improving overall skin health may take priority before more intensive treatment of residual scars or pigmentation begins.