Recently, I've had several enquiries from women in their late 20s and early 30s who are experiencing breakouts, particularly around the jawline, chin and cheeks.
Adult acne can be incredibly frustrating, especially if you thought spots were something you had left behind in your teenage years. For some women, acne appears for the first time in adulthood; for others, it may be a continuation or recurrence of acne they experienced when they were younger.
And it isn't always just the spots themselves that are the concern. Repeated breakouts can leave behind redness, pigmentation, uneven skin texture and acne scarring — all of which can remain long after the active spot has disappeared.
The good news is that there are several ways we can support acne-prone skin. The key is understanding what is happening with your skin and treating it appropriately at each stage.
Why do women develop acne in their 20s and 30s?
Hormonal fluctuations can play a role in adult acne, particularly when breakouts are concentrated around the lower cheeks, chin and jawline. Some women also notice that their skin becomes worse at particular points in their menstrual cycle.
However, acne is complex and hormones aren't always the only explanation. Sebum production, blocked pores, inflammation, genetics, skincare products and other factors can all contribute. This is why my starting point is always a skin consultation rather than recommending a treatment based purely on where your spots appear.
A note on when to see your GP. If your acne is persistent, becoming more severe, causing significant scarring or is associated with other symptoms such as irregular periods or increased facial or body hair, I may recommend speaking to your GP alongside any aesthetic skin treatment. Aesthetic treatments can support acne-prone skin, but sometimes medical assessment and prescription treatment are also needed — and the two can work well together.
Your skin across the menstrual cycle
If you notice that your skin follows a pattern throughout the month — clearer at certain points, more congested or reactive at others — that's not coincidence. Oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone all fluctuate across the cycle, and each has a direct effect on your sebaceous glands and the behaviour of your skin.
Understanding where you are in your cycle can help you make sense of what your skin is doing and, equally usefully, anticipate it.
The result is that the week or so before a period is when the conditions for a breakout are most favourable: high sebum output, compressed pores, reduced anti-inflammatory protection and a relative increase in androgenic activity. The spots themselves often appear on the chin and jawline because those areas contain a higher density of androgen-sensitive sebaceous glands than other parts of the face.
It's also worth knowing that when oestrogen is at its lowest — as it can be when using certain hormonal contraceptives, or approaching perimenopause — the skin loses some of its natural protection against sebum and inflammation. This is one reason why acne can appear, or worsen, at what feels like an entirely unexpected life stage.
Starting with your skincare
One of the first things I look at during a consultation is what you're already putting on your skin.
Acne-prone skin doesn't necessarily need lots of products, and using too many active ingredients can sometimes leave the skin irritated and compromise the skin barrier — which can make breakouts worse rather than better.
Instead, I prefer to build a straightforward routine around the individual. This may include a good cleanser, appropriate non-comedogenic hydration, a retinoid where suitable, antioxidants such as vitamin C, and a broad-spectrum SPF every day.
Your routine will depend on your skin, what you're currently using and what we're trying to achieve. The aim isn't to give you a long shopping list — it's to create a manageable routine that supports your skin consistently.
"Acne-prone skin doesn't necessarily need lots of products. Using too many active ingredients can sometimes compromise the skin barrier and make breakouts worse."
Chemical peels
Professional chemical peels can be a really useful part of an acne-prone skin programme. A carefully selected peel can increase cell turnover and exfoliation, helping to reduce congestion and improve the appearance of uneven skin tone and post-inflammatory pigmentation.
Rather than viewing a peel as a one-off treatment, I will often incorporate a course of peels into a wider skin plan where appropriate. The type of peel is selected according to your skin, your concerns and how your skin responds to treatment. I use the PCA Perfecting Peel — a gentle AHA superficial peel suitable for most skin types, including sensitive skin, with minimal downtime.
Red and blue LED light therapy
Another treatment I can incorporate into an acne skin programme is professional LED light therapy using the Visage Curve Pro.
Different wavelengths of light have different effects within the skin. Blue LED light can be used to support acne-prone skin by targeting acne-associated bacteria, while red LED light can help support the skin's repair processes and reduce inflammation. For some clients I may use a combination of red and blue light as part of their treatment plan.
LED is non-invasive, comfortable and doesn't involve the downtime associated with some other skin treatments, making it particularly useful as part of an ongoing acne programme.
What about the marks and scarring left behind?
Sometimes getting the breakouts under control is only half of the journey.
Repeated acne can leave behind post-inflammatory pigmentation, uneven texture, enlarged-looking pores and acne scarring — all of which can be just as distressing as the breakouts themselves.
Once we reach the appropriate stage in your treatment plan, I can introduce treatments specifically aimed at improving these concerns. One of these is microneedling. Microneedling creates controlled micro-injuries within the skin, stimulating the natural healing response and encouraging collagen remodelling. A course of treatments can help improve the appearance of certain types of acne scarring, uneven texture and overall skin quality.
Chemical peels can also continue to play a role where pigmentation and uneven skin tone are ongoing concerns.
"Getting the breakouts under control is only half of the journey. Repeated acne can leave behind pigmentation, texture changes and scarring that need their own treatment approach."
Your treatment plan might change as your skin improves
This is an important part of how I approach acne — you don't necessarily need every treatment at once.
Stage one · Reduce & support
Skincare routine optimisation, chemical peels and red/blue LED therapy to reduce active breakouts and support the skin barrier.
Stage two · Repair & refine
As the skin improves, the focus shifts towards pigmentation, texture and scarring — introducing microneedling and continued peels when appropriate.
It's a progressive approach rather than a quick fix, and your treatment plan can be adjusted depending on how your skin responds. The goal is to make real, meaningful improvements to your skin health over time.
Skin consultations and treatments at your home
All of these treatments are available as part of my private appointment service across Oxfordshire and the Cotswolds — I come to you, so your consultation and treatments take place in the comfort and privacy of your own home.
What's included in a skin treatment plan with me
- Personalised skin consultations and home skincare plans
- Professional chemical peels — PCA Perfecting Peel, tailored to your skin
- Red and blue LED light therapy with the Visage Curve Pro
- Microneedling for post-acne pigmentation, texture and scarring, when appropriate
If you're in your 20s or 30s and finding yourself dealing with breakouts around your cheeks, chin or jawline, you don't need to work your way through endless products trying to find something that works. A consultation gives us the opportunity to look properly at your skin, talk through what's been happening and develop a realistic treatment and skincare plan specifically for you.
Book a skin consultation
Clare will assess your skin, discuss your concerns and put together a personalised treatment plan — no pressure to proceed and no obligation on the day. Private home appointments available across Oxfordshire and the Cotswolds.
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