4 Tips for Acne-Prone Skin
Fashionistas view style as a sacred art and we strive for perfection through creativity and care. Our skin care is no exception. People obsess about having clear and healthy skin. Sometimes, we do everything right: We use tons of expert-recommended facial products, stay hydrated, and work out… but adult acne still exists. Let’s have a look at what causes it and how to prevent those vicious pimples.
Adult acne is also known as post-adolescent acne and occurs after 25. It’s frequently caused by factors such as bacteria, excess oil production, inflammation, and clogged pores.
But some indirect factors could also be causing adult acne. These include stress, hormones, and the menstrual cycle, all of which can influence oil production. Even the products that we use to keep us beautiful could be keeping our skin from that ideal state. Skin care products, hair products, and makeup can produce different effects on different people and clog pores.
Diet can influence inflammation throughout the body. According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD), when your eat high-glycemic foods like white bread, potatoes or fries, doughnuts or other pastries, sugary drinks, and even white rice, your blood sugar spikes, causing inflammation throughout your body. These spikes make your body produce more sebum, an oily or waxy matter in your skin. Both inflammation and excess sebum can lead to acne.
AAD also provided results of one study, which stated: “2,258 patients were placed on a low-glycemic diet so that they could lose weight. This diet also reduced their acne, with 87% of patients saying they had less acne, and 91% saying they needed less acne medication.”
It’s helpful to understand the causes. It’s even better to be armed with the right tips and strategies.
- Remove Your Makeup Every Night
In a recent piece posted on the Harvard Health Blog: “Adult acne: Understanding underlying causes and banishing breakouts,” Kristina Liu, MD, MHS and Janelle Nassim, MD emphasize how important it is to remove makeup before bed. This is like a commandment of self-care: Never, ever go to sleep with makeup on! Even after a crazy night, the self-conscious fashionista will stumble her way over to the sink. The authors of the Harvard blogpost also recommend checking labels carefully whenever you’re buying cosmetic and skincare products. Always look for items that say “oil-free” “non-comedogenic,” or “won’t clog pores.”
- Use Your Sunscreen, Rain or Shine
Avoid facial oils and hair products that contain oil. What is more, we all know how important it is to use sunscreen with SPF 30+ on hot summer days. Lesser known is the fact that it should also be used if you’re planning to spend some time outdoors during winter. And lesser known still is the fact that it actually helps with acne! Applying sunscreen will prevent post-acne spots from darkening.
- Girl, Wash Your Phone
If you are a little bit of a gossip girl or just love to chat with your girlfriend on the phone, do not forget to clean your phone screen daily as there is probably a lot of bacteria there. No offense. It’s just biology, okay?
- Change Your Pillowcases
Sleeping Beauty was one of the more elegant Disney princesses. But her bedtime hygiene was probably terrible (no fault of her own). Don’t sleep on the same pillow case for years; change it regularly!
And if your skin needs nourishment, consider the Age Intervention Duality from Jan Marini. This cream is said to treat adult acne while also having anti-aging properties. It can also help decrease inflammation associated with acne.
