During adolescence, most of us experience acne breakouts. By the time a person reaches adulthood, the condition gradually subsides. But have you heard of the term ‘Adult acne’. Yes, such a thing exists and it is hell embarrassing as it spoils your makeup, dine-outs with friends, date nights, etc. As an adult, a person expects pimples and acne to be a thing of the past. But for some, approximately one in five adults, the acne may worsen in adulthood than in adolescence. In some, the blemishes and marks continue to live on the skin till late age.
Acne can have an impact on the quality of life. Finding a way to get rid of these can help in building up self-esteem and a proper body image. The reasons for acne breakouts in adults are many. So, if you’re battling with recurring skin breakouts, you can improve the way in which you treat your skin daily.
Some simple ways which can prove to be helpful in fighting ‘adult acne’ are mentioned below. Try to bring these simple changes in your lifestyle to grab those ‘healthy skin’ compliments. These hacks can minimize or potentially eliminate the occasional breakout on your face, back, shoulders, neck, chest, or elsewhere on the body.
Before Buying, Check your hair and skin products Hair conditioners, gels, shaving products, cosmetics, moisturizers, sunscreens, etc. that have oil can clog your pores and cause a breakout. The hair and skin products that don’t clog pores called are called “non-comedogenic”. Simply switching to these could make a big difference in the appearance of your skin.
So before buying, check the labels, and look for non-comedogenic marked or oil-free marked products. They can help you immensely. Also, avoid using too many products. Make sure that you use only those products which are absolutely essential for your body. Also, make sure that you do not wear these products during heavy and sweaty exercise. Because in that case, even an oil-free product can clog pores.
Avoid Touching Your face very often
Are you someone who is habitual of resting your chin or cheeks on your hand or do you rub your nose quite often? If yes, please stop doing it immediately because such practices encourage growth of bacteria and cause infection in these areas. Also, avoid touching or squeezing the pimple as this will drive acne bacteria deep into the skin, leading to irreversible scarring.
Don’t let sweat stick around
Take a shower as soon as possible after you work out. Physical activity heats up the body, causing perspiration to mix with oils present on the skin surface. Together, they trap substances in your pores. If a quick rinse isn’t possible, clean your body with a towel and change clothes. Keeping sweaty clothes on the body for a long can cause acne to pop up on the chest and back. If you wear a helmet or any other safety gear with straps, be sure to wash the straps frequently to reduce bacterial growth.
Avoid overwashing and harsh scrubbing
Use of harsh substances like the one containing alcohol can worsen the situation. Make a habit of washing your face with mild soaps or clean it just with lukewarm water twice a day. The washing should be gentle and it should cover from under the jaw to hairline. Do not rub the face after washing, instead just pat dry it. Beware of products that claim to be anti-acne as they can cause your skin to become irritated and dry.
Lower your stress levels
Stress in your body produces stress hormones, such as cortisol, which can stimulate an overproduction of oil from the sebaceous glands in the skin. When this excess oil mixes with dead skin cells and bacteria, it can cause acne to develop or become worse. If you are going through a stressful time, try to take short breaks throughout the day to stretch and practice deep breathing.
Talk to your dermatologist if you don’t see changes even after following these simple habits for a month or two.