If you noticed the acne you had when you were 15 has returned in your 30s, rest assured, you're in good company. One in 5 women between the ages of 25 and 40 suffer from adult acne and adult acne affects more women than men. Here are a few facts about adult acne and how to rid your skin of it:
Fact #1: Acne Begins With Blocked Pores, aka "Blackheads"
Acne is basically blocked pores that have become infected. Most pimples begin with blackheads, which are not dirt, they're actually the result of oil and dead cells getting trapped in a pore where they block the duct and mix with bacteria. They then turn black when exposed to air. Red pimples develop when blackheads become inflamed and they spread when touched with dirty hands. When the pimple becomes infected, it develops a whitehead or pustule. Breaking that puss-filled pimple can leave a scar.
Fact #2: Blame it on Your Hormones
Hormones are what kick off overactive sebaceous (oil) glands. That's why you got pimples at 13 when you started your period. It's why your son's face erupted in acne when he hit puberty. And it's why your acne flares up right before your period. It's also why women post-menopause don't suffer from acne: those hormones have gone bye-bye (no more pimples are definitely something to look forward to post-50!)
Life today is very different than it was 50 or 70 or even 100 years ago. We are filling our bodies with hormone-enriched dairy and meat products. The stress that comes with modern life (hello trying to work, raise a family and keep up with Facebook) can also mess with our hormones.
So how to fix this? You can use your acne as a reason to finally take up yoga or meditation. You can use your acne as a reason to go on birth control pills which can control those hormones that cause acne. And you can use your acne to start eating organic meats and dairy products.
Fact #1: Acne Begins With Blocked Pores, aka "Blackheads"
Acne is basically blocked pores that have become infected. Most pimples begin with blackheads, which are not dirt, they're actually the result of oil and dead cells getting trapped in a pore where they block the duct and mix with bacteria. They then turn black when exposed to air. Red pimples develop when blackheads become inflamed and they spread when touched with dirty hands. When the pimple becomes infected, it develops a whitehead or pustule. Breaking that puss-filled pimple can leave a scar.
Fact #2: Blame it on Your Hormones
Hormones are what kick off overactive sebaceous (oil) glands. That's why you got pimples at 13 when you started your period. It's why your son's face erupted in acne when he hit puberty. And it's why your acne flares up right before your period. It's also why women post-menopause don't suffer from acne: those hormones have gone bye-bye (no more pimples are definitely something to look forward to post-50!)
Life today is very different than it was 50 or 70 or even 100 years ago. We are filling our bodies with hormone-enriched dairy and meat products. The stress that comes with modern life (hello trying to work, raise a family and keep up with Facebook) can also mess with our hormones.
So how to fix this? You can use your acne as a reason to finally take up yoga or meditation. You can use your acne as a reason to go on birth control pills which can control those hormones that cause acne. And you can use your acne to start eating organic meats and dairy products.
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