Adult acne. It’s a nightmare skin problem all on its own, but if you were lucky enough to avoid severe breakouts as a teen, these types of breakouts can seem particularly frustrating, especially when treatments that worked almost instantly in high school don’t seem to have the same impact. It’s important to recognize that adult acne can appear differently than the pimples you experienced as a teenager. Adult acne commonly appears as deep, painful, inflamed pimples, but can also appear as an excess of blackheads and clogged pores. These types of breakouts are also more commonly experienced by adult women than men. If you’re currently struggling with adult acne, remember that a visit to a skilled dermatologist could provide you with the knowledge and treatment you need to clear breakouts the fastest.

Read on for the 5 causes of adult acne and the things you can do today to prevent it.

• Fluctuating Hormone Levels
  We know what you’re thinking, and yes, hormones were the cause of your acne as a teen, but they’re also a trigger for adult acne as well. Hormones can actually continue to fluctuate, especially for women around their menstrual cycle, during pregnancy, peri-menopause, and menopause or after discontinuing or starting birth control pills. Androgens like testosterone and other male hormones can kick oil production into overdrive, which leads to excess oil that can clog pores. Androgens are specifically to blame for cystic acne; the deep, painful, under-the-skin acne that can appear on the lower half of the face.
  
  
• Stress
  Whether you’re a full-time student, work full-time, or stay-at-home with the kids full-time, you are exposed to everyday stressors that can lead to adult acne. This is due to the adrenal gland which is triggered by high levels of stress. To help your body deal with stress, the adrenal gland produces the stress hormone, cortisol. This is all well and good, but high levels of cortisol can also lead to an influx of testosterone that comes with it, which again, can trigger adult acne. Try practicing stress relievers such as meditation, regular exercising, and a full night’s rest!
  
  
• Diet
  Take a look at your daily meals and you may find one of the causes for your adult acne breakouts. A high-sugar diet raises your insulin level which boosts oil-producing androgens. Whole, unprocessed foods like whole grains, high-fiber fruit, and leafy greens break down slower in the body and don’t cause insulin spikes. By making small changes to your diet and eating mostly low-glycemic foods, you will be working from the inside-out to ensure your insulin levels don’t jump and you don’t experience a possible acne flare-up.
  
  
• Hair or Skincare Products
  Are you using any new hair or skincare products that could be the culprit? Pay attention to the ingredients in your products – they could be one of the causes of your adult acne. Remember that as you age, your skin does too. These changes to your skin’s texture could make skin products that you’ve been using for a while too heavy, which can lead to clogged pores and breakouts. Simplify your products and stick to terms like non-comedogenic and oil-free.
  
  
• Over-cleaning
  Your daily skincare regimen could be one of the reasons behind adult acne. Take a look at your routine: are you washing more than once a day? And how often do you exfoliate? If you’re washing your face more than twice a day (or skipping a daily moisturizer), you can dry out skin, which triggers your skin to produce more oil that may clog pores. While regular exfoliation is key to healthy skin, excess exfoliation can actually promote acne. Try limiting gritty face scrubs to only twice a week.

Here are a few things you can do to prevent adult acne:

• Exfoliation
  Exfoliating 1-2 times a week can promote healthy skin by encouraging cell turnover which works to prevent breakouts and treat active acne. Remember our tip against over-exfoliating however, and always err on the side of being gentle on your skin rather than harsh.
  
  
• Spot Treatment
  A skincare treatment you can dab on a problem breakout rather than treating your whole face is best. Acne-fighting cleaners could dry out skin more than necessary, so try sticking to a spot treatment that you can reach for when it’s necessary.
  
  

With the help of a dermatologist and a bit of patience, you will be able to more effectively control your breakouts and find a treatment that works. Dr. Robert Miller of Long Beach, CA is ready to provide you with the knowledge to better understand your skin type, the acne you’re dealing with, and to formulate a skincare plan that will succeed in clearing your adult acne. Dr. Robert M. Miller has been recognized as a Top Doctor by FindaTopDoc.com and has been awarded the Patient’s Choice Award. He is also recognized as one of the top Long Beach Dermatology Practices by OpenCare.com. Schedule an appointment today by clicking here.

Adult acne can seem like an uphill battle, especially when at-home treatments don’t seem to be working fast enough. Consult a dermatologist to find the right treatments that will work best for your skin type to achieve clear, even skin.