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5 Causes of Adult Acne

5 Causes of Adult Acne
There’s no denying that acne can be pretty frustrating to deal with. Not only is it unpleasant having a pesky blemish staring back at you when you look in the mirror, but it also takes a toll on our self-esteem. This is why so many people are seeking solutions for the acne that’s plaguing their lives (and their faces). In order to truly clear up your skin, you need to look into the causes of adult acne. After all, you can’t expect to banish zits forever without addressing the root of the problem. In an effort to help you figure out what’s triggering your breakouts, we’re sharing five causes of adult acne.

1. Fluctuating Hormones

One of the top causes of adult acne is the fluctuating hormones we deal with. As women, we see a change in hormones especially before our menstrual cycle begins, which is why you often notice blemishes popping up around that time of the month. The specific hormones that are causing you grief are androgens (male hormones) and testosterone. In many cases, they cause painful cystic acne to appear, which are some of the worst blemishes to deal with. If you notice a few extra spots around the time your menstrual cycle starts, it’s a good sign that your acne is hormonal.

2. Stressed Out Vibes

There’s no denying that we have a lot going on in our lives, which results in facing a variety of stressors on a daily basis. Whether your job has you feeling frazzled or you’re overloaded with to-do lists at home, it can leave you feeling run down. Not to mention, it’s also one of the causes of adult acne. Stress can cause unsightly blemishes to appear, which typically only adds to those stressed out vibes you’re already feeling. The reason for this is because the adrenal gland produces the stress hormone, cortisol, to help you deal with the stress you’re feeling. When this happens, a small amount of testosterone comes along with it. And as we mentioned above, that testosterone is triggering new blemishes for you because it causes the oil glands to produce even more oil.

3. You’re Not Using the Right Products

While you certainly need to be taking care of your skin from the inside out, you also need to be careful about what you put on your face. If you aren’t sure what the root cause of your acne is, take a look at your skincare products and the makeup you’re using. Many products contain ingredients that are known to clog pores, thus causing breakouts. You want to make sure you’re using products that are appropriate for your skin’s needs. You also want to pay close attention to the ingredients list for any common blemish triggers. It’s worth spending a little extra on your skincare to ensure you’re buying products with good-for-you ingredients. To assist you with choosing the right products, it’s highly beneficial to see a licensed esthetician to get on the proper home care and spa treatment regimen.

4. You’re Not Cleansing Right

Did you know there are a couple things you should avoid when it comes to cleansing your skin? The first is that you don’t want to over-wash your skin. Many people are guilty of doing this because they think cleansing more often than needed will keep acne at bay. This simply isn’t true. Instead, it can cause your skin to dry out, which signals to your body that it needs to produce more oil to compensate for it. More oil can lead to more breakouts. Relatedly, choosing a good-quality, professional cleanser that doesn’t strip your skin is also important, and will help keep the skin balanced. Another big no-no when it comes to cleansing is being too aggressive and over exfoliating. Facial cleansing brushes and some gritty scrubs can all cause issues for your delicate skin. If you notice pimples are popping up when you exfoliate, scale back your usage of them to give your skin a break. Another option is to switch to exfoliating with a skin-friendly, hydrating gommage.

5. Your Diet

By now, you’ve likely heard people say that greasy foods like french fries are going to give you more zits. And you’ve probably been told that too much chocolate isn’t doing your skin any favors either. Although there hasn’t been any concrete evidence to show that food causes breakouts, it certainly does for some people and what you eat can be a factor. If you suspect that your diet may be trigging your adult acne, keep a food diary and make a note of when breakouts flare up. You should be able to spot any connections between what you’re eating and how your skin reacts. Even if greasy foods or chocolate aren’t triggers for you, caffeine, dairy, or something else could be. For many, it’s the sugar sweets loaded with refined sugars that cause the most troublesome reaction. It’s been shown that eating sugar increases your insulin level, which can boost the male hormones that cause excess oil production. That’s why so many people notice more breakouts if they eat a lot of sweets in a short period of time. Could these issues be one of the root causes of your acne? In order to truly get clear skin, you have to figure out what your trigger is if you want to kiss your blemishes goodbye!
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