Acne at Every Age: Understanding the Realities of Skincare Confusion in the UK

Skincare retailer launches its ‘Acne at Every Age’ 2026 Report, with a mission to challenge outdated perceptions of acne and highlight the emotional, financial, and educational gaps surrounding acne across all life stages.

Long misunderstood as a teenage concern, acne affects people well into adulthood—from hormonal changes and pregnancy, to menopause, to lifestyle-related triggers. Yet public understanding, education, and representation have not evolved at the same pace.

The findings within this report fuel Face the Future’s ‘Acne At Every Age’ campaign, which aims to improve education around acne causes, reduce skincare overwhelm, and empower consumers to treat acne with confidence rather than confusion.

The report explores the realities of living with acne in the UK, such as skincare overwhelm and misplaced trust, the emotional impact, financial fatigue, and the growing shift towards prescription treatment.

Julia Barcoe Thompson,
Owner and Director, Face the Future, says:

“Acne is one of the most misunderstood and emotionally charged skin conditions our customers come to us about at Face the Future. However, most of us still associate acne with being a teenage concern, when in reality it affects people well into adulthood and menopause.

Through our clinics and online consultations, we see the same pattern repeatedly: people feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, and unsure who to trust and what to buy. Many have spent years cycling through products, actives, and the latest acne trends, often overloading and worsening their skin in the process.

This report was created to highlight the reality of acne in the UK today, but also to show where education and expert-led guidance can make a meaningful difference. As skincare educators, we believe acne deserves the same level of understanding, empathy, and care as any other skin concern.”

Money, Trust & Acne Fatigue

Despite acne being one of the most common skin concerns in the UK, confusion remains widespread. Acne can be costly and frustrating, and consumers are often unsure who to trust when seeking advice.

• 53% of acne sufferers say they’ve wasted money on products that did nothing.

• 43% admit they’ve tried products even when they didn’t believe they’d work.

• 79% trust dermatologists more than skincare influencers for acne advice.

• Just 2% trust influencers more than dermatologists.

• 40% would be more likely to try one high-end product over multiple lower-end products.

“Acne remains one of the most common and misunderstood skin concerns in the UK. It’s easy for consumers to feel frustrated when treatments don’t work, or when so many conflicting recommendations exist online.

These findings show just how much people rely on expert guidance, with almost eight in ten trusting dermatologists over influencers, and why investing in a single, effective high-quality product can often be more beneficial than juggling multiple options. Education and clear advice are key to helping people manage their skin with confidence.”

• — Kimberley Medd,
  Head of Clinic, Face the Future

Overwhelm & Confusion

Many people feel lost navigating acne treatments, unsure about their own skin and what works.

• 79% of people with acne feel overwhelmed by the number of products claiming to fix it.
• 66% worry their acne won’t clear up.
• 33% often experience low mood because of acne.
• 30% of 25–34-year-olds would rather experience wrinkles than acne.
• 66% say they don’t know whether their acne is hormonal, bacterial, fungal, or something else (Gen Z highest at 78%).
• 40% believe adult acne is not talked about enough in skincare marketing.
• 71% of people with acne have considered going on acne medication.
• 2% are currently on acne medication.
• 41% have taken acne medication in the past.
• 18% have considered but not taken it.
• Millennials are most likely to consider acne medication (78%) compared to 63% of Gen Z.

Age & Gender Insights

When it comes to acne, our survey found younger generations experience the greatest confusion and are most likely to over-treat, while women bear higher financial and emotional costs.

• 88% of 25–34-year-olds feel overwhelmed choosing acne skincare.

• 30% of 25–34-year-olds would rather have wrinkles than acne.

• Nearly half of Gen Z (49%) say they’ve made acne worse by using too many actives, versus 9% of over-65s.

• 75% of 18–24s and 74% of 25–34s don’t know what type of acne they have, compared to 29% of 55–64s.

• 29% of 18–24-year-olds have cancelled plans due to acne.

• 60% of women say they’ve wasted money on acne products, versus 45% of men.

• Women are more likely to over-treat acne (30% vs 23%).

• Acne impacts women’s confidence more than men (30% of women vs 32% of men most impacted by money).

Julia Barcoe Thompson, Owner and Director, Face the Future, says:

“This over-treatment culture reflects a growing disconnect between access to information and true understanding. While younger consumers are highly engaged with skincare, they are also the most likely to experiment without guidance, leading to compromised skin barriers and prolonged breakouts.

Women carry a disproportionate financial and emotional burden. Over half of acne sufferers say they have wasted money on products that didn’t work, while many admit they’ve tried treatments they didn’t believe would be effective, simply out of desperation.

Women are disproportionately affected, both financially and emotionally. They are more likely to report wasted spending, more likely to over-treat their skin, and more likely to say acne has a direct impact on their confidence. For many, acne is not just a skin issue, but a daily emotional weight.”