You’ve graduated from being a teenager when getting acne makes sense, but surprisingly adult acne isn’t uncommon.

There are a few reasons that could help explain why you’re experiencing acne and identifying the causes will significantly help you to treat it, while also preventing them in the future. 

Let’s take a look. 

Hormonal Fluctuations

Androgens can be one of the explanations for your acne. Androgens produce sebum, which can lead to oily skin. And the overproduction of oil leads to clogged pores leading to acne. Hormonal changes are inevitable and you can’t control it, but what you can control is the management of oil and acne being produced on your skin. 

Stress

When you’re stressed your body releases cortisol, which is a stress hormone. Besides causing a host of other issues for your body, cortisol also increases oil production on your skin’s surface, clogging your pores and giving you acne. 

Free Radicals

Unfortunately, our surroundings are not as clean as we assume. Environmental pollutants or free radicals that are harmful to our skin are everywhere and it’s hard to avoid them because they’re both visible and non visible. This could be pollen in the air, dust inside the home or even dirty bed sheets and pillow cases.

To combat these issues daily cleansing of your face will not only get rid of dirt and bacteria on your face, but will also remove excess oil. On top of that, weekly exfoliation will help to unclog your pores.

Overwashing

I know, I just said wash your face, but I also can’t stress enough the importance of not overwashing your face. It is recommended that you wash your face only up to 2 times a day - once in the morning and once at night. 

Overwashing your face will dry out your skin, stripping away the natural oil that your skin needs causing irritation and acne. 

Products

Another explanation for adult acne could be the products you’re using. Knowing your skin type is the best way to choose your products. If you have acne prone and sensitive skin, look for non-comedogenic, water based, oil-free and gentle products. One product that works for your friend, may not work well for you. Also, to get optimal results you have to use serums and moisturizers consistently for at least 3 months. 

Diet 

Garbage in, garbage out. Your diet is a big contributor to your acne. What you consume affects your overall health and that’s why it can affect your skin. Indulging on foods high in sugar, dairy, caffeine and fast food may cause acne. You can control this by keeping track of your skin’s reaction when eating certain foods. Overall, a healthy diet with fresh fruits and vegetables will go a long way for your skin and health.