And then there’s the pervasive idea that acne is only for teens, but nothing could be further from the truth. You are not alone. Did you know that up to 40% of women in their thirties are dealing with some form of acne? In fact, a study in the American Academy of Dermatology shows that acne is on the rise in both men and women.
There’s a difference between a few zits popping up where the culprit may be easy to identify, but if you have chronic acne that never seems to go away, that’s when it gets more complicated.
The good news is that dermatologists are constantly discovering new ways to treat acne. We’ve come a long way from the old-school method of dehydrating your face and using only “oil free” products in an effort to keep acne at bay. And now, dermatologists suggest that some of the most popular medications, like benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, might be in fact affecting the skin’s microbiome in such a way that acne bacteria is encouraged to flourish!
So, what to do? There are no easy answers here. One potential difference between adult acne and acne in your teens could be that when you’re a teenager your hormones naturally fluctuate and you can’t control it, while when you’re an adult, your hormones could fluctuate due to an array of external factors. The primary causes of adult acne includes physical and emotional stress, hormones, clogged pores, diet, and contact irritation.
Lately “skinstagrams” are popping up everywhere. Thousands are sharing their acne journeys with the world. In fact, the acne positivity movement is growing and has been embraced by celebrities such as Kendall Jenner and Bella Thorne.
Never allow acne to be the reason you cry; the sum of you is greater than any imperfect part.
If you feel like you’ve tried everything and had no success, see a dermatologist sooner rather than later.
Source: glamour.com, theguardian.com, womenshealthmag.com, thecut.com, aad.org, oprahdaily.com, scarymommy.com, news24.com, rush.edu, discovermagazine.com, elle.com
DISCLAIMER: The information on this website is for educational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you are experiencing symptoms or need health advice, please consult a healthcare professional.