Causes for adults acne

Acne is usually considered a teenage malady. Therefore, getting acne as an adult can often dredge up feelings of embarrassment and frustration. There is no reason to worry though–understanding what causes adult acne breakouts can help you figure out the right solutions that work for you.

 
Hormonal imbalance

Your body is a finely tuned instrument, wherein even the smallest changes can cause havoc. A fluctuation in your hormone levels can have a number of side-effects, including breakouts. In women, hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle is often the number one culprit. Pregnancy, menopause, and starting or stopping birth control also cause hormonal imbalance, leading to acne. Medications containing lithium and corticosteroids or anti-seizure drugs may cause acne as a side-effect.

There isn’t much that we can do to counter hormonal imbalance as a cause. The best approach is to speak to a dermatologist about it. Your skin specialist will be able to prescribe medication that addresses this cause in particular. If any existing medication is causing your acne, talk to your doctor about prescribing a suitable alternative if possible.
 
Diet

When it comes to acne, the relationship between what you eat and how it affects your skin is not as clear as you’d think it is. We all run into family and friends who are ‘experts’ about what in your diet is causing the breakouts; they are almost always pretty wrong. Everybody’s body reacts differently to the food they eat.

The only way to determine which foods are leading to acne is by experience. Is eating chocolate causing zits? If yes, then don’t eat it. If no, then keep eating chocolates. Sometimes it could be the dairy aspect of the chocolate that causes zits, leaving you free to enjoy dark chocolate. Two things to keep in mind when in comes to diet and acne: keep your sugar and iodine levels in check. Eating too much sugar in a short time can cause insulin spikes, which–like hormonal imbalances–leads to acne. 

 Wrong products

From face-washes and mists to concealers and blushes, there are a number of products coming into contact with your facial skin on an everyday basis. Sometimes, it is these products that could be causing acne. While all the products sold in the market are heavily tested, your skin may be having an allergic reaction to some ingredient that is causing inflammation and zits.

This is the easiest cause of adult acne to deal with. Tried a new product that caused zits? Switch it out and problem solved! If a product works just fine for your skin, a little bit of brand loyalty will really help your skin in the long-term. Cosmetics that are branded non-comedogenic and non-acnegenic are always a safe bet, as are products that list benzoyl peroxide, salylic acid, retinol, and sulfur as ingredients.

Stress and pollution

In the modern day and age, stress and pollution are two things that cannot be avoided. Stress causes your body to overproduce certain hormones, thereby causing the dreaded hormonal imbalance we have already talked about. During stressful times, eating the right healthy foods and getting enough rest is of paramount importance, especially if you want to prevent zits.

The negative effects of pollution are a lot easier to counter. Wash your face twice as a day (anything more would be overkill) using a gentle cleanser. First, wash with lukewarm water to open up the pores. Work in the cleanser using circular motions–do not be too aggressive. Finish off with splashes of cold water to seal the pores. Dab the skin dry using a soft towel, especially a microfiber towel if you can get your hands on one. Also, don’t forget to exfoliate once a week to make sure all impurities and ace-causing bacteria in your skin are removed.