You spend your teenage years looking forward to adult life: more money, more freedom, and, of course, clear, acne-free skin. But then you hit your 20’s and you still have those same pesky breakouts you had in your teens. Or maybe you’ve been hit with a sudden, seemingly inexplicable bout of adult acne right in the middle of your 30’s.
WHAT CAUSES ADULT ACNE?
At its core, acne is caused by a mix of:
- Overproduction of sebum, an oily substance produced by the skin
- C. acnes, a type of bacteria that lives on the skin that eats sebum, leaving skin red and inflamed
- Clogging of pores by sticky skin cells, makeup, and dirt
The triggers of these acne causes aren’t well understood, especially in adults, but the below are thought to be contributing factors:
1. FLUCTUATING HORMONES
One of the biggest causes of breakouts is hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle. Right before your period, your estrogen levels drop, leaving androgen unchecked and running wild. Cue the pre-period breakout. But women can also experience this type of hormonal adult acne during pregnancy, perimenopause, and menopause.
Birth control pills also alter your hormone levels, which can leave you with zits while your body adjusts to its new normal.
2. HIGH-STRESS LEVELS
Stress makes the adrenal gland release a hormone called cortisol, which helps the body deal with the stress. Unfortunately, this fluctuation of hormones also increases oil production and inflammation, leading to acne breakouts.
3. DIET CHOICES
Some studies report that eating food with a high glycemic index may encourage acne. Too much sugar creates excess insulin, which can promote breakouts. It’s also thought that foods with a high number of hormones, like dairy products, may also lead to more breakouts.
4. OVERCLEANSING
Washing your face more than twice per day can dry out your skin and cause it to produce even more oil to compensate for the dryness. For best results, use a gentle cleanser like Radiant Cleanser Nectar in the AM and PM only.
HOW TO GET RID OF ADULT ACNE
Now the part you’ve been waiting for: how to actually treat adult acne.
1. Don’t Use Acne Treatments Designed for Teens
Teenage skin is more resilient than adult skin and can stand up to harsher ingredients.
For adult acne sufferers, the skin is often sensitive and those teenage ingredients will leave it red, itchy, and flaky. It’s better to use natural ingredients that nourish your skin rather than punish it.
2. Pay Attention to Your Diet
Some studies have shown that eating a low-glycemic diet can help to clear up acne breakouts.
Swap out refined carbs for their whole-grain counterparts and limit your intake of candy, soda, alcohol, and other insulin-boosting foods.
You can also try lowering your dairy intake or eliminating it from your diet altogether.
3. Try Stress-Reducing Techniques
Anything you can do to relieve stress can also help reduce your breakouts. Some stress-busting activities to try include yoga, meditation, vigorous exercise, walking in nature, journaling, coloring, and knitting. Try a few and see what works best for you!
4. Don't Pick!
Pimple poppers beware: you won’t be able to easily pop these blemishes on your own, and trying to do so can lead to infection and scarring. The only way to get rid of a cyst quickly is to visit your dermatologist for a shot of cortisone.
5. Use Products Designed to Work Together
Combining multiple products from different skincare lines can actually inactivate their hero ingredients, so the products don’t work anymore. Oftentimes, mixing product lines can make acne even worse.
That’s why it’s incredibly helpful to stick to one product line at a time. Our Clear Skin Kit provides a total clear skin solution with products that are formulated to work together to:
- Restore dull and lackluster skin
All of our products are designed for sensitive skin, with nutrient-rich, non-irritating ingredients. Best of all? This system is just four steps, so it’s easy to fit into your busy routine.
6. Stick With It
Remember: no skincare routine works instantly. And altering your skin routine too frequently can actually irritate your skin even more. That’s why it’s important to give your new skincare routine at least two to three months to experience results.