Adult Acne-How Do You Get Rid of It?

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Carline

Carline is an advocate for women's empowerment and environmental issues, such as plastic pollution and its effects. She is a passionate writer who wants to make a difference.

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Let’s face it adult acne can be a surprise.  Acne, as we used to think, will disappear after we hit puberty.

It turns out that a woman can have acne on her 20’s, 30’s and even during menopause.  As weird as it is, acne can coexist with wrinkles.

I’m going to share my own story on how I went through the adult acne journey.  Frankly, I am still going through it.

My story

“I’ve dealt with acne since I was 11.  It was terrible.  My family and I tried everything.  We went to different dermatologists. I carried it with me until adulthood.

I was not very confident in my skin.  In fact, it was my biggest insecurity. I would always cover them with makeup.

When I was 21, my acne disappeared and I got pregnant with my first daughter.  Since I already have a family of my own, I started taking contraceptive pills.  Years later I decided to stop taking contraceptive pills because I didn’t like what it was doing to my body.

I got a major break out after that, even worse than my puberty acne. I had huge, very inflamed cysts on my face. I felt like I had no choice but to go back to pills because NOTHING SEEMED TO WORK.

I know I’m not alone at this problem, I know that a lot of women over 30 deal with the same problem. That’s why I did my research on how to deal with adult acne. I will be applying it and I will soon share my journey.

Simply stated, first you need to find out the cause of your breakout.

Your hormones are out of whack

When you’re pregnant, or start contraceptive pills, when you’re on your period or you are going through menopausal stages, your hormone functions are distorted.

Your male hormones increase, which causes you to have breakouts on the chin, jaw and even on your back.

Adult acne thrives when you’re stressed out

Stress plays a significant role in adult acne.  If you are a full-time mom or a career woman juggling complex responsibilities, there’s a big chance that your stress levels are soaring.

Every time you are stressed, your adrenal gland produces the stress hormone cortisol and it leaks testosterone with it, releasing it to your body.  This causes your oil glands to be on overdrive.  With more oil, more sebum, and more pimples!

The products you’re using could be the culprit

If you have oily skin or combination skin, you could be prone to breakouts.  Harsh products will aggregate it.

Always look for “non-comedogenic”, “Non-acnegenic”, “Oil-free or water-based,” and products that “won’t clog pores.”

There are gel-based moisturizers in the market such as this Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Based Moisturizer.

You’re over-cleansing your face

If you think you can wash your acne off, well don’t. Because over-washing makes it worse!  It can dry out your skin causing your oil glands to overcompensate and produce more oil.

Anything that rubs your skin, even the slightest, can increase acne, especially facial scrubs. Wash your face twice a day with gentle face washes such as Cetaphil.

Adult acne loves sugar

Your sweet tooth can cause a skin problem.

Sugar spikes up your insulin level which wakes up those oil-triggering male hormones.

Stick to whole grains and low glycemic foods and avoid eating sweets.

Magnesium supplements can help to keep your blood sugar levels at bay.  Remember to ask your doctor for a medical opinion before taking it.

How do you treat adult acne?

1. Wash your pillowcases often.
2. Regularly clean your makeup brushes and your mobile phones.
3. Never touch your face!
4. Have a healthy lifestyle; don’t smoke and avoid caffeine.
5. Drink lots of water.
6. Ask your doctor for hormone treatments if your hormones are imbalanced.
7. Look for specific ingredients on a skin care regimen (see below)

Look for these specific ingredients

• Salicylic acid-  called beta-hydroxy acid. It works by exfoliating your pores gently. It’s gentle and safe for your face. Ordinary 2% Salicylic acid is a good place to start.

• Benzoyl peroxide- it kills acne-causing bacteria and works like wonders as a spot treatment.
• Glycolic Acid- works for both acne and wrinkles at the same time.  It removes dead skin cells on the surface, stimulating collagen and hyaluronic acid.
• Retinol- the skin absorbs retinol, which is a derivative of Vitamin A.  The skin transforms it into retinoic acid.  Similar to glycolic acid, it works both for acne and wrinkles. It has collagen-building properties. It is one of the most effective acne treatments. However, it could be harsh for sensitive skin.  A great over the counter option would be Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Ferulic Acid + Retinol Brightening Solution.

BONUS TIP-Exfoliate regularly with Glycolic Acid 

Glycolic acid prevents and treats acne, which stops it from reproducing.  Beauty Rx Advanced 10% Exfoliating Pads or serum is a great option.

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