Mother nature has a cruel sense of humor doesn’t she?
Just when you think you’ve outgrown your “pizza face” days… Bam! You’re breaking out like a pre-pubescent teen again.
Adult acne sucks. Like really sucks. Because who has time to worry about pimples when you’re busy plucking gray hairs and getting Botox? The good news is that it can be improved. But just as we have evolved past our 16-year-old selves, our skin care routine must evolve as well. Sure, some of the same acne triggers can exist for adults, but if you start dousing your face in Clean and Clear and St. Ive’s Apricot Scrub, you’re going to have a whole different problem in your hands.
Things that contribute to adult acne:
1. Excess oil production, hormones + genetics, they’ll get ya every time
2. Clogged Pores, makeup, skin care products, dead skin cells, all build up in those tiny precious pores
3. Bacteria - Acnes loves oily skin. The oilier it gets and more clogged your pores are… the happier that nasty bug gets
4. Inflammation
Diet: some evidence that low glycemic index diets and diets rich in omega 3 fatty acids may help acne. Dairy may worsen acne (specifically whey proteins and casein), some evidence supports the use of probiotics also… excess oil, bacteria, immune response, damaged skin barrier, all lead to chronic inflammation of the skin.
So what can you do about it? Don’t worry, an entire post is in the works. In the meantime, let’s do a skin care consult. Acne is a medical condition. If you continue to struggle with it after committing to a medical grade skincare routine for at least 6-8 weeks then you should see a Dermatologist.
