For finding it weird I'm seemingly going through adolescence at 27?

[Auburndreamz]

Some important context before I mention anything else. Throughout all of my life, I've consistently looked much younger than my real age. At 16, people said I looked about 9 or 10. I had no acne when I was 16, only up until recently. At 21, a doctor said I look about 12. At 27, people, as well as AI, say I look around 16-18. Starting from 2 years ago, my poreless face quickly began developing visible pores, my skin got immensely greasy, I'm talking, so greasy, you can put a paper towel on my cheek and there'd be a mark on the towel greasy. The acne on my face is so bad that there's huge patches of my face that are just red. There's so many big bumps and tiny ones they merge into eachother, and I'm constantly breaking out even with adapalene. My chin is the worst but even my forehead isn't spared. It's a mix of closed comedones and cystic acne. My face feels constantly inflamed and hurts alot.

What's more, is my bones are still growing! I remember measuring my shoulder width in my early 20's, and they were about 12 to 13 inches across. Now, they're slightly over 15 inches wide. It's the actual bones that have grown, I have remained the same weight. At 19% bodyfat, I'm pretty lean.

I have seen some changes in my torso shape. I used to have a very narrow upper torso, but now it's actually got some kind of V shape to it. I don't train, so as well as bones growing, I'm also growing muscle in places, while losing fat which is why my weight is staying the same. I'm also pretty sure my jaw has gotten slightly wider as well.

PCOS was ruled out. I've had my hormones tested, and there's nothing about my androgens, testosterone, oestrogen, etc that are out of range. I'm not premenopausal or menopausal. DHEA-S was slightly low but that's about it. TSH etc normal. My doctors seem very puzzled. I've been referred to a specialist but who knows when I'll be seeing him or her lol. I'm not on any meds that could affect my hormones. In 2024 I literally went from having clear skin to a pizza face within just one month.

I know that adolescent ≠ teenager and there's variation in ages people go through certain stages of adolescence but is seemingly going through it at 27 a bit much or should I just suck it up and wait?

This all sounds very strange. Is your partner completely trustworthy? Not supplementing your diet with anything bizarre?

No. these changes were happening before I met him.

How long have you been with him?

I got adult acne from either using wrinkle cream I think it was the retinol or a tablet for vaginal health (it was advertised as a woman’s reproductive tract pill).
It didn’t come out until a few days/weeks later and so I couldn’t tell which one it was but both had reviews saying the same thing.

So it may be that your bones growing may be a different thing to the acne.

Adults can just naturally develop acne too so it may be unrelated.

I’m assuming you’re not taking WLIs as I’ve heard they can cause issues with things like this.

You say your last brain scan. Was that part of investigations for the reason why you looked like a child? I suppose if you went through puberty normally they might not have been very concerned. But the body hair, deepening voice, severe acne, bone and muscle growth sounds fairly sudden so I hope you’re seen soon and I would considered going private if not. I would also take some photos to show the Doctor the change over time

Well if your hormones are normal for a 27 year old you’re obviously not going through adolescence. Around 30 hormonal changes do happen though and women’s physiology shifts through their lifetime causing changes in muscle mass, posture and body composition.

There’s not a single documented case of WLIs causing wider shoulders or acne. In fact meta analysis found 0 evidence linking GLPs with adult acne.

Although you haven’t taken up yoga have you? Stretching could lead to a perceived increase in shoulder width and touching your face to dirty mats, acne.

I came off the pill when I was 26 and got a regular cycle right away, but cystic acne for the first time in my life. I returned to the pill and it stopped, came off pill about 8 years ago but the acne didn't return (since had 3 babies and am 39). Maybe a late 20s thing? Try the pill?

@OP it sounds like you're going through 2 different kinds of puberty; one for women and the second one for men which is the strangest thing ever and hope the doctors can get to the bottom of it. If you're having periods, breasts and now shoulders are widening, jaw is more square, voice deeper etc are you aware of any congenital issues? Intersex? Chimerism? that might sort of explain these new developments?

Have you had your growth hormone tested? Pituitary adenoma (benign) can cause these symptoms.