Having acne is practically a rite of passage when you're a teenager, but you also expect it to clear up in your 20s. Unfortunately, it’s possible for acne to itensify into adulthood. If you're reading this, you're probably wondering how to get rid of adult acne, but first, let’s take a closer look at what causes it!
Hormonal Imbalances
One of the biggest causes of adult acne are hormones. Hormone fluctuation occurs for a variety of reasons, but one of the most common is before your period begins! Other times, it's because of testosterone in the system, which can cause cystic acne on the neck, chin, and back. Sometimes, acne is a sign of a hormonal medical condition, such as a thyroid problem. If you notice it all the time, and not just during this time of the month, you should make an appointment with a doctor to rule out underlying causes!
Air Pollution
Pollutants in the air are another major reason that people find themselves seeking out adult acne treatment in the form of organic acne oil. Air pollution leaves tiny particles of dust, dirt, and other debris on the face, especially if you live in a larger city. If you aren't washing your face properly every night, you're leaving that city grime on there and allowing it to settle into your pores which yep, causes acne.
Too Much Cleansing
You've heard the saying "too much of a good thing," and over-cleansing your face is the perfect example of that. You should wash your face each evening to get rid of any makeup and other pollutants, but doing it tooooooo often usually makes acne even worse. When you wash your face more than twice a day, your skin dries out and causes small abrasions that lead to more acne.
Too Many Sweet Snacks
Sometimes, your fave foods are what causes adult acne. If you have a few unexpected new friends on your face, your sweet tooth may be the reason why! Too much sugar raises your insulin levels, which may boost oil-triggering testosterone in your system. Your skin and overall health will TYSM if you stick to low-glycemic foods with complex carbs, like whole grains.
Stress
Stress may be last on this list of acne causes, but it’s definitely not least. Stress causes changes in hormones, whether it's due to work, parenting, or unexpected circumstances in your life. Your adrenal gland creates cortisol when you're stressed, but the gland also leaks testosterone, which can lead to more breakouts!
Now that you understand what’s causing your (adult) acne, it’s important to learn how to treat it. Perhaps most importantly is to ensure you wash your face with an all natural face wash once in the morning and once in the evening. You should also try your best to maintain a healthy diet, get plenty of sleep, exercise regularly, and speak to your doctor if you notice ongoing breakouts that never seem to clear up! By keeping track of your body's hormone levels, you can learn to anticipate breakouts and, hopefully, stop them in their tracks.
