Acne isn’t fun to contend with at any age, but dealing with painful breakouts as an adult isn’t something most people expect to experience. People are often of the belief that acne happens during your teenage years, and as your body matures, the acne will settle down and go away. Unfortunately, that isn’t everyone’s experience, and you can be well into your 30s, 40s, 50s and beyond and still be coping with acne and regular breakouts.
If adult acne has you feeling frustrated, and you’re tired of the discomfort and feeling self-conscious about it, here are some tips that can help.
Daily Skin Care Needs to Be Prioritised
It doesn’t matter if you’re going through an active breakout or just have a couple of pimples, daily skin care needs to be the top priority. Using the proper products, ingredients and techniques will help keep your skin in better condition and reduce flare-ups.
Opt for a basic skincare routine that consists of cleansing your skin twice a day (morning and night) with a gentle cleanser, follow by a cream or lotion that is lightweight and targets acne, and if you wear makeup, choose products that are non-comedogenic that won’t clog your pores. When shopping for skincare products, always look for items that are safe for sensitive skin and won’t cause an allergic reaction.
The sheer volume of skin care products directed at acne can be very overwhelming. A good way to cut through the noise and find the best options is to read the ingredients. Look for products that have as few ingredients as possible, and no added fragrance or potentially problematic essential oils. Make sure they are free of dyes and won’t strip your skin. A few ingredients to look for include salicylic acid, retinoids, azelaic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and vitamin C.
Spot treatments can also be a great option if you can’t find all the ingredients you need in your facial cream, gel or lotion.
Professional Facials Can Have Immediate and Long-Term Effects
Another useful tip is to try getting a professional facial. Be sure to look for one that includes blackhead extractions, sloughing off dead skin cells, and addressing localised acne. These are the exact features that the dermatological prescriptive skin treatment at Skyrah Beauty offers to customers. The whole idea behind a facial is that it cleanses the skin, gets rid of clogged debris, impurities and oil, reduces oil production, exfoliates dead skin and helps to reduce inflammation.
There are many types of facials you can do at home, but keep in mind that a professional will have the proper tools and experience that you lack. Also, if you have moderate to severe acne, you probably won’t get the results you’re after with an at-home facial. During an active breakout it’s best to get a facial every two weeks, and as the acne clears you’ll likely be able to stretch the time between facials to four to six weeks.
Learn Your Triggers
Start to pay attention to acne breakouts and what may have contributed to them. Learning about your acne triggers means you can start to avoid them, and hopefully cut down on breakouts.
A few common acne triggers include:
- Diet
- Stress
- Skincare products and treatments
- Smoking
- Touching your face
- Dehydration
- Not getting enough sleep
- Excessive sweating
- Travelling
- Insufficient makeup removal
- Hair
- Heavy sunscreen
There’s a good chance that a number of these will be true, so it can be handy to keep a journal so patterns can start to show themselves.
Speak to Your Doctor – You May Need Prescription Medication
If it feels like you’ve tried everything and your breakouts aren’t lessening, then it could be time to speak to your doctor. Acne can become so prevalent and painful that the basic steps have little to no effect. Your doctor can discuss prescription medications, the pros and cons and what sort of results you can expect.
The big takeaway is that there is no reason you have to live with adult acne. There are plenty of tips and treatments that will have a profound effect, making breakouts a thing of the past and giving you back your confidence.
