Just because your teenage years are over, that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re done with acne. Many people in their 20s, 30s, or even 40s still experience acne. One benefit of getting older, however, is the wisdom of skin care. Throughout all those years and after baskets full of creams, ointments, and even prescription products, you may finally be getting to know the skin you live in and how it wants to be taken care of. But no matter the number of products you use, there are still some acne triggers that are hard or even impossible to prevent. If you want to talk with a reliable dermatologist in Monroe, get to know Dr. Gremillion, who will be able to steer you in the right direction. In the meantime, here are some of the biggest causes of adult acne.
Hormones
No matter how old you are, there are still hormones at work in your body and they sometimes cause acne to form. For women especially, hormones are a major player. The week or so around your menstrual cycle, during pregnancy, or after starting or stopping birth control pills are common times when women will see a breakout. It’s the fluctuation of the androgen hormone that tends to cause acne around the chin, neck, and back. The good news is that a dermatologist would be more than happy to help you out.
Stress
If you’re stressing out over getting a breakout, it could actually be making it worse, or could cause future breakouts. This time it’s a different hormone that you can blame. Adrenal glands, when you’re stressed out, begin to produce the hormone cortisol. When cortisol is released into the body to help with the stress, a small amount of testosterone is released as well. Testosterone can cause the oil glands in your skin to produce additional oil, which can lead to breakouts! Hormones are a vicious cycle.
Skin Care Products
This is where it comes in handy knowing what type of skin you have. Those who have oily skin should only be using products that are labeled as “oil-free,” or “non-comedogenic.” If you’re using a typical acne wash, the ingredients could be irritating your skin, leading to breakouts. The last thing you want when you’re trying to prevent acne is to clog your pores or to irritate your skin. Talk to a dermatologist for a recommendation on the best product for your skin.
Washing Too Frequently
This is a common mistake that many inexperienced youth make. On the surface, it may make sense. If you have oily skin, and oil causes breakouts, you need to wash the oil off a couple of times a day to prevent the oil from accumulating, right? Actually, washing your skin too many times throughout the day can actually have the reverse effect. When you cleanse your skin of it’s natural oil, it will begin to produce additional oil to make up for what has been lost. Instead, use a gentle cleanser twice a day max.
Foods
There might be contradictory information on this one. You have probably heard that chocolate, fried foods, or maybe nuts cause breakouts, but it can actually depend on the person. If you find that you breakout after eating chocolate, don’t eat it (or not as often). One person may have a reaction to a certain food, while another person is perfectly fine eating a few slices of pizza. Simply paying attention to what you’re putting in your body and how it can affect your skin can make a big difference.
Dermatologist Recommended Treatments
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Look for the right ingredients: When fighting acne, it’s all about the ingredients in the product.
- Salicylic acid, or beta-hydroxy acid, exfoliates the skin to unclog pores.
- Benzoyl peroxide works to kill acne-causing bacteria.
- Glycolic acid exfoliates the skin to right acne and wrinkles.
- Retinol is a type of Vitamin A which promotes collagen growth, but can be harsh on the skin.
- Exfoliation: Many of the ingredients above work as an exfoliant, so you probably picked up on how important exfoliating is. Just be careful with how often you do it.
- Treating scars: Many topical products won’t remove scars, but you can’t talk to your dermatologist about microneedling.
Acne is definitely a big struggle, but there are answers. Instead of stressing out over another pimple, talk with a dermatologist at Advanced Dermatology in Monroe today. We’ll create a plan so that you can finally have clear skin.