What Causes Acne By Age, and How To Fix It.

What is causing those unwanted pimples:

Breakouts are most commonly thought to be something you deal with in your early teenage years up into your early twenties, but what most people don’t realize is that they are not alone in the struggle that continues on into their 30’s, 40’s and up. This article will help you break down what causes acne by age group to help you get a better understanding around why you are breaking out and how you can fix it.

Acne as a teenager:

The cause:

Although there is no definite culprit confirmed for the root cause of acne, it is led to be believed acne in the teenage years has to do with an overproduction of the hormones (androgen levels) which can cause an excess production of sebum (oil) clogging the opening to the hair follicle. When a hair follicle is blocked, this creates the perfect environment for bacteria to grow, resulting in blackheads, whiteheads, pustules and inflammatory acne.

Myths:

Skipping the chocolate and the pizza – isn’t going to stop the breakouts, unfortunately, although, it will make you happier and healthier in the long run). Also, it’s not the best solution to over wash and over exfoliate acne prone skin, this will cause a reverse reaction and encourage the skin to want to produce even more sebum, causing more skin issues and more acne.

 The Solution:

Hygiene is very important at this age, and it’s often overlooked. It’s important to rarely touch your face, especially if you haven’t washed your hands. It’s important to launder your sheets, pillowcases, towels, makeup brushes and beauty sponges often (at least once a week) to keep bacteria at a minimum. Cleansing your face with a gentle yet effective cleanser is going to be key, no more than twice a day. Finding an appropriate serum that combats the clogged follicle and a moisturizer that helps balance the skin with proper moisture levels and ingredients. In some severe cases, a prescribed antibiotic to suppress the overproduced hormone is the ultimate solution during those difficult teenage acne years.

Acne in your 20’s, 30’s and 40’s:

The Cause:

Adult Acne is similar to teenage acne, where you are dealing with skin complications from skin oil production, clogged pores, too much androgen etc. The difference with acne once you enter into your adult years is how it can be easily effected with your lifestyle. Stress is not a “cause” for acne, however, it is responsible for worsening and increasing breakouts. As we take on more responsibilities, have higher expectations from family and society, we naturally will have more stress added to our day-to-day life. You are also, more likely to wear more makeup and use heavier creams and skincare products, which could be causing the acne to get worse. Habits, habits, habits. Remember that hygiene is still a huge part of the game, cleanse your face in the evening and remove the day’s pollutants, dirt, grime and makeup.

Myths:

Diet is still not the main culprit for your blemishes, it is however true that you are what you eat. With that being said, the healthier you are the better your skin is going to look and the better you are going to feel overall, but it will not “cure” your acne if you live off of kale and broccoli, sorry. Having a reaction to a particular ingredient is a reality, so if you ever have a weird breakout or one-off rash, reflect back on your last few day’s intake.

The Solution:

Take up a healthy way to alleviate stress, and do it daily. Toxins are building up in our bodies compounding day by day, being able to release these from your body will improve your stress levels and bonus: give you some well-needed daily endorphins. Be sure to drink water to flush your system, and don’t overdo the alcohol (it never looked good on anybody). Stop using those “anti-aging” heavy creams. Using a cream that is too heavy for your skin type is going to cause your skin to be confused. It won’t know what the correct level of oil production is natural. You want to find a well-balanced non-comedogenic moisturizer that brings balance to your skin. It’s ok to spot treat with that acne serum/treatment, but as we age, you may realize it can be a little too much for an ‘all over’ treatment.