And then there’s the pervasive idea that acne is only for teens, but nothing could be further from the truth. You are not alone. Did you know that up to 40% of women in their thirties are dealing with some form of acne? In fact, a study in the American Academy of Dermatology shows that acne is on the rise in both men and women.

There’s a difference between a few zits popping up where the culprit may be easy to identify, but if you have chronic acne that never seems to go away, that’s when it gets more complicated.

The good news is that dermatologists are constantly discovering new ways to treat acne. We’ve come a long way from the old-school method of dehydrating your face and using only “oil free” products in an effort to keep acne at bay. And now, dermatologists suggest that some of the most popular medications, like benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, might be in fact affecting the skin’s microbiome in such a way that acne bacteria is encouraged to flourish!

So, what to do? There are no easy answers here. One potential difference between adult acne and acne in your teens could be that when you’re a teenager your hormones naturally fluctuate and you can’t control it, while when you’re an adult, your hormones could fluctuate due to an array of external factors. The primary causes of adult acne includes physical and emotional stress, hormones, clogged pores, diet, and contact irritation.

Here are a few skin care habits that dermatologists recommend:

• Wash your face twice a day and after sweating. Use a gentle cleanser. Avoid astringents, toners or exfoliants that can irritate the skin.
• Rinse with lukewarm water and pat dry with a clean towel. Apply a non-comedogenic, gentle moisturiser.
• Eat healthy. Although there’s no scientific proof that chocolate and greasy foods aggravate acne, a study in the Journal of American Academy of Dermatology suggests that eating less sugars and carbs will result in fewer breakouts.
• If you have oily hair, shampoo daily.
• Hands off. Touching can cause flare-ups.
• Resist the urge to pop zits. This could disrupt the skin’s barrier and potentially cause inflammation and scarring.
• Avoid home remedies such as toothpaste, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide or alcohol; it could dry out the skin and will only lead to burning and peeling.
• Try yoga. Reducing stress is crucial. Stress causes hormonal fluctuations that increase oil production and leads to breakouts.

Lately “skinstagrams” are popping up everywhere. Thousands are sharing their acne journeys with the world. In fact, the acne positivity movement is growing and has been embraced by celebrities such as Kendall Jenner and Bella Thorne.

Never allow acne to be the reason you cry; the sum of you is greater than any imperfect part.

If you feel like you’ve tried everything and had no success, see a dermatologist sooner rather than later.

Source: glamour.com, theguardian.com, womenshealthmag.com, thecut.com, aad.org, oprahdaily.com, scarymommy.com, news24.com, rush.edu, discovermagazine.com, elle.com

DISCLAIMER: The information on this website is for educational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you are experiencing symptoms or need health advice, please consult a healthcare professional.