This question came to me from another dear friend who feels she had beautiful, acne free skin in high school but now seems to be battling small break outs here and there.
Even if we had beautiful skin as teenagers, a time when hormones ran wild, we sometimes end up developing acne as adults. It doesn't make a lot of sense and it sucks but here are a few reasons why we get it, how we can deal with it, and how we can take preventative measures.
Our bodies change in many ways as we get older. For some our metabolism slows down, we experience hair growth in places it just shouldn't be, hormone imbalance is an unfortunate part of getting older. We can develop acne as adults for many reasons since acne, itself, is caused by many things.
Mild Allergies
While most people believe acne is caused by eating junk food, this isn't always true. Eating certain foods can cause it but not just the greasy or high calorie items. A lot of people don't realise that acne can actually be a mild allergic reaction. It's not much different from hives, with the exception that it often stays visible longer. It's your body's way of reacting to the food allergy. I, myself, have a mild allergy to cheese and chocolate. Sure as the sun shines, if I eat either of those items in excess, I break out. Again, this is only in excess, if you eat anything in excess your skin may react.
It is definitely worth it to track when you break out the most. You may notice what you are eating or doing when it happens. And if you are concerned you can always make an appointment with your doctor to refer you to an allergist. That's what I did!
Old Aunt Flow
A lot of women tend to break out during their menstrual cycle. Your hormones often tend to wreak havoc on your body during this time. Some people react with mood swings, eating comfort foods and some people break out in acne.
Some birth control pills do offer to help with the control of acne. I would recommend talking to your doctor if the outbreak is severe enough to consider taking birth control in the first place.
Oily Connections
As strange as this might sound, your pillow case may be the cause as well! If they aren't washed often enough your skin is essentially laying on them or rubbing against dirt and head sweat for 6-8 hours a night. The same applies to your hands touching your face. When I read I always have my hand up on my cheek. If I'm not careful I end up getting acne in that area because the oils on my fingers rub into the pores on my face. It's the same thing if you touch your face in the same place all the time, some people rub their nose, or put their chin in their hands. If you do this often enough the pores on your face will react.
Washing your pillow cases or changing them out once a week should help. Washing your face before you go to bed and when you wake up will help!
Preventative Maintenance
I cannot express how important it is to be consistent with the care of your face.
Whether you use, warm water or a drugstore product, washing your face in the morning not only helps to wake you up in the morning and get the crusties out of your eyes but it helps get rid of any access oil residue that tends to build up on your skin over night.
When you go to bed at night it is also important to wash your face to get rid of any environmental toxins and make up that may cause acne!
I hope this helps! Stay tuned for my acne myth busters in tomorrows post!
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