If You’re Getting Acne Now & Didn’t Before, This Is Why

Dr. Andrea Suarez, dermatologist, explains:

Ringing the changes

It’s not just you! Acne in women—especially up the 40s—is very common and that prevalence seems to be increasing, but greater awareness, social media visibility, and more people seeking diagnosis also make it seem even more common than it is.

In women in particular, it’s often more inflammatory, persistent, and concentrated around the jaw, chin, and mouth.

If you guessed the reason is mostly hormonal, you’re right: hormones—particularly androgens and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)—stimulate oil production and inflammation, and even normal hormone levels can trigger acne if your skin is more sensitive to them.

And yes, this happens because of all kinds of hormonal changes, as menstrual cycles, pregnancy, breastfeeding, starting or stopping hormonal contraception, let alone hormone replacement therapy (HRT), perimenopause, and menopause can all provoke new or worsening acne later in life.

It’s not all about sex hormones though; high-glycemic foods and drinks, refined sugars, and frequent snacking raise insulin and IGF, which can also worsen inflammation and sebum production, while overall eating patterns matter more than any single food.

And more hormones: because chronic stress and poor sleep raise cortisol, and thus also slow down healing, increase inflammation, and create a cycle where stress worsens acne and acne itself becomes a source of stress.

There are more things too—otherwise unrelated metabolic issues, pollution, paradoxically overdoing skincare, genetics even, but the above more-discussed things are the main drivers, and thus the main things to try to manage.

Which will come as a surprise to many who focus on skincare as the be-all and end-all of skin health!

For more on all of this, enjoy:

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Take care!