Common Causes For Adult Acne

Your teen years are usually filled with high school crushes, football games, the occasional heartbreak, homework, and adventures with friends. But with hormones raging and mood swings running wild, nothing can make a special event or even daily life worse than one thing: acne. Acne and blemishes are the perpetual beast that plagues thousands of teens every day. Most can hardly wait until their 20s to finally have clear skin. Unfortunately, there is the very real possibility of developing adult acne.
 
For the last few decades, adult acne has been on the rise. Believe it or not, but it is even common for acne breakouts to continue well into your 20s and even beyond. In fact, research shows that 35% of women in their 30s, 26% in their 40s, and 15% age 50+ suffer from consistent breakouts. So why does this happen? What causes acne – even severe cases – in adults?
 
There are many reasons why you might be suffering from adult acne. But fear not, you are not alone. Not only that, but there are plenty of ways you can combat this persisting affliction. Knowing what is causing your complexion to breakout can help you clear up your skin.
 

Hormones

 
As the main cause in teens going through puberty, hormones are often the culprit behind acne woes. But teens are not the only age group that suffers from hormone imbalances. Fluctuation in hormones, such as before a menstrual cycle, can lead to a higher chance of breakouts. Your hormones can also be thrown off while going through menopause.
 
To help your hormonal imbalances, taking Vitamin B can often keep the blemishes at bay. Make sure to use an antibacterial product on your skin during these high imbalance times to prevent clogging your pores even more. You can also speak with your physician to see if they have any recommendations.
 

Touching Your Face

 
This might seem like an odd cause, but touching your face can majorly impact the amount of acne you have. Think about this: how many surfaces do you touch in a day? In an hour? Your hands and fingers pick up germs with everything they touch. Unnecessarily touching your face can add bacteria to the skin, adding to existing acne bacteria which can cause more problems.
 
Try to avoid touching your face if you don’t need to. This means: do not rest your face against your hand, scratch your nose with your nail, or – and this is one of the most important ones – try to pop any blemishes you may have. Washing your hands consistently and your face every morning and night will help minimize breakouts, but keeping your hands occupied and away from your skin will help even more.
 

Not Washing Your Face

 
This is an extremely important step to take to deter acne. Sleeping with makeup on in addition to oil, dirt, and debris that builds on the skin during the day can trigger a breakout. Oil on your skin creates bacteria which will cause blemishes.
 
People often do not wash their face at night due to exhaustion. When feeling tired, try thinking about how drastically different your complexion will look by simply washing your face.  Use a hydrating, antibacterial wash that will strip away dead skin cells and dirt that has built up in your pores.
 

Your Diet

 
Unsurprisingly, your diet plays a key role in how you feel, act, and even how you look. Sugar is one of the biggest influencers of breakouts. Any food that leads to a spike in your blood sugar – such as pasta, bread, and sweets – can trigger and provoke a breakout. Several studies have also shown a link between dairy products and pimples, perhaps because of the hormones that are presented in these foods.
 
Buying organic products help reduce the number of hormones put into your body. Try your best to cut back on artificial sweeteners. Instead, eat a balanced diet of leafy greens and foods that have complex carbs like whole grains.
 

Stress

 
Another source of hormonal change: stress. Throughout your day, chances are your stress level fluctuates. Depending on how busy you are or how much responsibility you hold, you could experience high amounts of stress at any given time. Stress hormones can drive the oil glands to produce more oil – which is the root cause of breakouts.
 
The easiest (and hardest) solution to stress is to relax. Set aside time for fun activities and space from others. Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep every night, according to research on adult sleeping patterns. Research also states you should keep away from smart phones and computer screens 1-2 hours before you sleep.