If you suffered from acne in your teens, you probably longed for the day it would come to an end. You monitored your face daily checking for progress. Dreamt of waking up one day, looking in the mirror and seeing flawless skin. For some people that magical day actually arrives but others aren’t as lucky. Adult acne is as irritating as that mosquito that won’t go away- if not more.
Hormones are a major contributor to adult acne. Estrogen levels dip as your period approaches. Testosterone takes the upper hand. This hormone causes a peak in oil production, clogged pores which manifest as ugly breakouts.
If you’re on birth control, the hormones in the pill keep the skin’s oil production in check. When you go off the pill your body experiences an adjustment to changing hormonal levels. You may experience acne during this time.
Stress. Life often comes with loads of it. When the pressure is too much, the body looks for ways of releasing it. One place it will show is on your facial skin. The hormone cortisol is produced in response to stress. When you get an acne flare-up, take some time to figure out what’s making you worked up.
Diet: what you see is a result of what you put in. Dermatologists recommend cutting out dairy products to combat acne. Milk for instance contains a high level of hormones that trigger breakouts. If you can’t cut out dairy at once, try reducing the amount you consume over time to allow you to adjust mentally and physically. Sugar is also a culprit as it increases your insulin levels, causing your adrenal glands and hormones to go into overdrive.
Keep your hands away from your face. It’s tempting to rest your face in your palms while inn deep thought. However, your hands pick up a large number of germs from the environment. These bacteria cause breakouts. Remember this simple rule: wash your hands, wash your face, keep them away from each other.
Exfoliating masks are suitable if you suffer from severe acne, as opposed to scrubs which are abrasive. Masks gently slough off dead skin cells unlike scrubs which spread bacteria and create inflamed acne.
