If you spent your teenage years longing for clear skin, then you’ll have experienced the overwhelming disappointment that comes with discovering a spot on your mature adult skin.
Like millions of women, anti-ageing is probably high on your skincare priority lists. However, we seriously doubt spotty skin is what you meant when you said you wanted younger looking skin!
So what on earth causes adult acne? And can it be treated naturally?
Adult acne can have a number of causes and it takes a careful and considered approach to resolve it. Do be careful of products and promotions that claim to eradicate adult acne fast; you need to fully consider the potential side effects of any treatment, topical or otherwise, and what impact it has on your overall health.
The good news is that in many cases adult acne can be treated successfully with a natural approach. Let’s first take a look at what are some of the causes of adult acne, and then what you can do naturally to help keep it under control.
Some of the causes of adult acne
Hormones
While both men and women can suffer from adult acne, women tend to experience it more often due to fluctuating hormones around the time of their period, during pregnancy, and at the onset of and throughout menopause.
Stress
Stress can cause the release of the hormone androgen which is known to cause painful cystic acne on the chin, neck and back. Taking time to relieve your stress with gentle relaxation and mindfulness exercises can help keep the excess production of this hormone under control.
Genetic tendencies
If you have a close relative that has experienced adult acne it could be that the condition is in your genes.
The wrong skincare products
Despite what’s on the label, some skincare products can make your acne worse. Always check the label for ingredients that clog the pores, dry the skin and cause inflammation and irritation. Look out for products that are oil-free, fragrance-free and all natural.
Air pollution
Pollution from cars and buses, machinery and factories contribute to air pollution that can take its toll on our skin. The foreign particles can clog your pores and prevent the skin from breathing leading to breakouts.
Mobile phones
Just when you thought mobile phones couldn’t take the blame for anything else, now they can also be held responsible for creating an ideal breeding ground for the bacteria that causes acne on our skin. When you hold the phone to your face, the warmth of the phone combined with the bacteria, oil and dirt on your skin provides an ideal environment for breakouts.
Food
While the jury is still on whether foods cause acne, there is significant evidence that shows sugar may boost the hormone androgen that contributes to painful cystic acne on the chin, neck and back. We do know however that certain foods can support the skin and even protect it from the effects of ageing (you can read more about that here) so it pays to eat well and healthfully.
How to manage adult acne naturally
There are a number of steps you can take to manage acne including
- Using a gentle cleanser to keep your skin free of dirt, oil, bacteria and skin cells
- Use earphones instead of pressing your mobile to your face during phone conversations
- Wash your make-up brushes regularly with warm water and a gentle cleanser to rid them of the bacteria that can cause acne
- Eat healthfully to give your skin as much support as possible, avoiding foods with sugar that can contribute to acne breakouts
- Get your stress under control to limit excess production of hormones that can increase breakouts.
You should also pay close attention to your skin care products and daily skin care routine. Many skincare products use synthetic ingredients that clog pores and aggravate sensitive skin, which can lead to further breakouts and red, angry skin.
Bee Loved’s gentle Face Cream uses only natural ingredients to soothe and nourish the skin, and it won’t clog pores with artificial ingredients like some other moisturisers can.
Importantly, it also contains natural ingredients that are anti-microbial and anti-bacterial to help bring the bacteria that contributes to acne under control.
