Adult Acne Outbreaks

Adult acne has reached an unprecedented high in recent years, to such a degree that dermatologists have seen a rise in treating acne alongside wrinkles and treating adults even up into their 50’s for unwanted skin breakouts. The causes of adult acne may be from a variety of factors including hormones, diet, stress, environmental pollutants or your makeup and cleansing regimen.

Even though in the popular imagination hormone-fueled acne breakouts belong to the realm of teenagers, adults can still suffer from breakouts due to fluctuations in hormone levels. Excess testosterone can contribute to large cystic pimples near the neck and back area. Even the menstrual fluctuations that women go through each month can cause breakouts as estrogen levels rise and fall over the month.

We can blame stress for a variety of health ailments, and acne is no exception. During periods of stress, our adrenal glands work overtime and pump out cortisol. Cortisol can aid the body in dealing with short-term stresses, but elevated cortisol levels over the long term can cause a variety of problems including increased testosterone and increased oil production by our oil glands.

How To Get Rid Of Sudden Acne Breakouts That Come Out Of Nowhere

Pollution and environmental toxins build up on your skin and clog pores. If you live in an area where there is a lot of pollution, consider that each time you go outside, your body becomes covered with the surrounding pollutants. The best thing you can do if you live in a highly polluted area is to clean your skin often and avoid going outside on high-pollution days.

Cosmetics can also clog pores and prevent your skin from breathing and cycling out toxins. Make sure that if you have oily, combination or acne-prone skin, you’re using products that don’t contain oil or that you’re using water-based products. Lotions are notorious for clogging pores, so be sure to read labels and use only those that won’t. Not cleaning your skin frequently enough or cleaning it too frequently can also have a negative impact and cause pimples. Washing too much can irritate skin and cause your skin to stimulate excess oil production, especially if you use harsh cleansers. Not cleaning off makeup or cosmetic products at the end of the day can prevent your body from getting a chance to clear your skin of bacteria.

While it’s hard to pin down any one specific food as solely responsible for breakouts, except for perhaps excess iodine, which has shown a correlative relationship with acne, many people get pimples when they eat specific foods. In that case, it’s important to avoid any foods that you know can trigger acne if you want to have clear skin.

Adult Hormonal Acne Personal Essay

The one culprit that’s known to have a relationship to acne is sugar, which is available in a variety of foods, because it increases insulin production. Increased insulin can increase testosterone as well and thereby increase oil production in the skin. If sugar causes you to break out, decrease consumption and eat foods that don’t cause a dramatic increase in your insulin levels.

Trying the methods listed above should hopefully cut down on breakouts. Keep in mind that the goal is to decrease your skin’s oil production, so try the ones that seem the most likely to create this effect. Even if you’ve tried all of the above to no avail, there may still be solutions for you.

If you have a wart and you’re wondering what to do, you’re in the right place! In this blog, we explain the most common types of warts and how they’re treated. Read on to find out more.

False Popular Beliefs About Adult Acne In Women

Blackheads, pimples, and zits as a teenager are expected. But if your acne continues as an adult, you’re probably wondering if you’ll ever outgrow this frustrating skin condition. Keep reading to learn the answer.

Stretch marks are an unfortunate fact of life for many people. But now they’ve met their match thanks to advancements in laser technology. Learn how you can banish these unsightly skin blemishes for good.

Tumescent liposuction offers the same body contouring benefits as traditional liposuction — without general anesthesia. This procedure isn’t for everyone, however. Read on to learn if you’re a good candidate.

Faced With An Acne Breakout? This Surprising Cause Might Be To Blame

Scabies involves an itchy rash triggered by tiny skin mites. If you or a loved one have scabies, you might wonder if this common skin issue is contagious. Keep reading to find out.

The skirts and shorts of the warmer summer months may seem far off. But if you’re embarrassed about spider veins, winter is the perfect time to start treatment. Learn how we can give you legs you'll be happy to show off this summer.Still battling annoying acne as an adult? Here are some causes you may not have expected — and the solutions dermatologists recommend for making acne go away.

Puberty is a common cause of acne. About 8 in 10 preteens and teens experience it. (1) But hormones aren’t the only thing to blame for those pesky pimples. So if you thought you left breakouts and blemishes behind with that first crush, think again.

Why Do I Still Have Acne?: Manhattan Dermatology: General, Surgical, & Cosmetic Dermatology

What’s interesting is that you can get it [as an adult] even if you didn’t have it as a teenager, says Francesca Fusco, MD, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. (3)

“Adult acne is usually on the lower half of the face; teen acne is typically on the upper half, ” Dr. Fusco says. “Adult acne is also deeper and appears as cysts, or ‘under the skin’ pimples, which can’t be drained.” (4)

So what’s causing those embarrassing zits today? One culprit: changing hormone levels. This includes premenstrual dips (aka period pimples), and fluctuations that occur during peri-menopause. (5)

Adult Acne Causes And How To Get Rid Of It, Say Dermatologists

“Styling products seep oil onto the forehead, which can trap acne-causing bacteria in your pores, ” says Richard Fried, MD, PhD, the director of Yardley Dermatology Associates in Yardley, Pennsylvania, and the author of the book

“Many times, what you’re using on your hair winds up on your face, especially if you use products with spray applicators, ” Dr. Fried says. (7)

Zit zapper Apply products with your hands and keep them away from your hairline. After applying, wipe your skin with facial cleanser to remove any stray styling product. (7)

How I Finally Cleared Up My Adult Acne, With A Dermatologist's Help

Topical products applied to your skin before or after hair removal can be comedogenic (meaning they clog pores and promote acne), says Fusco. (6)

Keep in mind that itchy bumps after hair removal might not be true acne, but rather “an irritation of the hair follicle that causes a transient rash, ” she says. (10)

Zit zapper Relieve the rash by applying a warm compress to your face three to four times a day. If this doesn’t work, see your doctor. You may need an antibiotic to clear the rash. (10)

How To Treat Adult Acne, According To 3 Top Dermatologists

You might experiment with several new skin-care products a year. That’s good for the cosmetics industry but bad for your skin. (11)

Switching products or adding a new one before giving it a chance to work “challenges your skin with new preservatives and active ingredients, which can be irritating and cause breakouts, ” says Paul Jarrod Frank, MD, the founder and director of Fifth Avenue Dermatology Surgery and Laser Center in New York. (11)

“I have patients who have acne because they switch between four or five different acne creams or use an astringent, facial wash, and spot cream, all with acne-fighting ingredients, ” Dr. Frank says. “This tears their skin apart.”

Acne Breakouts In 30s And 40s: These Could Be The Triggers

Zit zapper Whether your goal is fighting wrinkles or zapping zits, pick one or two products and give them at least four to six weeks to work. (7)

Need another reason to stop dabbling with acne “cures”? You'll save money at the drugstore and free up space in your medicine cabinet.

Using too many skin-care products, or the wrong ones, can goof with your skin pH, causing redness and potentially acne. Here’s what you need to know.

What Is Causing My Acne?

“Either women clean their skin in a cursory manner, or because they’re wearing mineral makeup they think they don’t need to wash their face thoroughly, ” he adds.

After a long day, makeup, oil, and dirt build up. This is a triple threat that can easily clog your pores, trapping acne-causing bacteria and triggering breakouts. (12)

Zip zapper Look for noncomedogenic products, and wash your face thoroughly — and gently — every night. Gently apply makeup, clean your makeup brushes every week, and don’t share cosmetic products. (12)

Adult Female Acne: Why It Happens And The Emotional Toll

Zit zapper You can’t change the weather or humidity of where you visit, but avoiding too much sun exposure and using a sunscreen with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide might help reduce breakouts. (14)

“People with acne or acne-prone skin should look for oil-free, noncomedogenic sunscreens, ” says Yoram Harth, MD, a dermatologist and the medical director of MDacne in San Francisco. Heavier sunscreens, which aren’t labeled as oil-free, can clog the skin pores and cause more acne, he says.

It’s important to shield your skin from the sun, including if you have acne. Here’s the best type of sunscreen for acne-prone skin, according to a board-certified dermatologist.

Before & After: How To Treat Adult Acne And Heal Its Scars

Sunscreens have two types of active ingredients. Chemical agents that absorb into the skin and protect against harmful ultraviolet rays, and physical agents (also