Having acne in your teens is bad enough, but what about when you get into your twenties, and nobody told you it didn't stop when you became an adult?? Maybe you're in your 30s, 40s, or beyond, and you STILL get adult acne. What gives? Today I'm going to "pop open" this mystery once and for all! 😉
So what causes some people to still be dealing with acne when their kids have acne, while other people seem like they never have another pimple again after their 18th birthday?
Well, scientists aren't exactly sure. But what they do know is, what causes adult acne breakouts is the same stuff that causes breakouts in teens, namely:
- Excess oil
- Sticky skin cells that get in the pores
- Inflammation
- Bacteria
But just like with teen acne, adult acne could be caused by stress and hormones, especially when we are PMSing!! (As if you didn't have enough to deal with, right?)
But also, the fact that acne is HORMONE related means that if you're having a breakout, especially with adult acne since that's slightly less common, it could point to a deeper hormonal issue.
It could be something like polycystic ovarian syndrome that's throwing your system out of whack, or another endocrine issue. It's best to go to your doctor and get all that ruled out. But hey, I guess that's one good thing about the acne breakout…if that symptom gets you to visit your doc and figure out what's actually wrong!
But of course, I'm not trying to worry you either. It's more likely that your adult acne is caused by a combination of the issues above…like combination skin! 😉 Diet can be an issue too. You've probably heard that sugar causes acne, and then you've heard, no it doesn't, that was just a myth… So WHAT'S the truth? Well, since acne can be caused by inflammation as mentioned above, that means dietary choices DO play a role. Sugar spikes insulin, and so it does lead to all-over body inflammation. Not only is that bad for you, but it can make you break out.
So cutting out sugar, or at least reducing it, is a good place to start. But the rest of the rules of thumb (get it, thumb, because you use your thumbs to pop pimples?? Sorry, I'll see myself out…) I will list below:
- Take off all your makeup before you go to bed, and wash your pillowcase / change out your pillowcase once a week,
- Swap out oily face products like moisturizers with oil-free versions,
- Use non-comodegenic products because that's just a fancy way of saying they won't clog your pores
- Topical or oral medication, such as isotretinoins like Accutane. (As you probably know, Accutane carries a lot of risks with it and is truly a last resort for adult acne. For a less harsh treatment, see if your dermatologist recommends regular tretinoins, or spironolactone that is used to regulate hormonal imbalances.)
- Light therapy
- Chemical peels
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