/assets/images/provider/photos/2835388.jpeg)
You’re well into adulthood, but acne is still a regular struggle for you. Isn’t acne something only teenagers deal with? Read on to learn what could be behind your adult acne — and how we can help.
Even if acne wasn’t a prominent issue for you in your teenage years, leaving those breakouts behind once you’re in adulthood can be a relief. However, many adults still struggle with pesky pimples even after adolescence has long since passed.
Whether adult acne has become a new issue for you or the acne has followed you from adolescence and persisted into adulthood, there are plenty of effective treatment options.
In this month’s blog, Ben W. Cilento, MD, MHA, and our team at Butterfly MedSpa and Wellness in Spring and The Woodlands, Texas, take a closer look at what might be causing these acne breakouts — and how we can help.
Causes of adult acne
Although they’re equally frustrating to deal with, adult acne is actually different from teenage acne. While teen acne tends to develop on the upper half of the face, adult acne tends to favor the lower half. In addition, teen acne usually sits right on the skin’s surface, while adult acne often sits deep beneath the skin’s surface.
Still, like teen acne, adult acne occurs when there are issues with your skin and pores. This often happens because your skin produces too much oil and your pores aren’t able to get rid of it effectively, leading to blemishes. Bacteria and inflammation can also lead to acne breakouts.
Common triggers for adult acne due to clogged pores and inflammation may include:
Fluctuating hormones
When your reproductive hormones shift during your menstrual period or pregnancy, it can raise inflammation and ramp up skin oil production, resulting in acne breakouts.
Stress
If you deal with high stress levels regularly, your body can start producing hormones called androgens. These hormones can stimulate increased oil production in your pores and hair follicles, setting the stage for acne breakouts.
Hair and skin products
Many self-care products, such as shampoos, conditioners, moisturizers, and creams, can cause acne breakouts. Check the labels on products you use regularly to ensure that they’re oil-free and won’t clog your pores.
Family history
Genetics play a significant role in adult acne. If you have a relative who struggled with acne in their adult years, you’re more likely to deal with it yourself.
Expert solutions for adult acne
One of the best things you can do for acne is to use an oil-free, gentle cleanser on your skin twice a day. Doing this helps clean excess oil, dirt, and other debris from your pores. Managing stress levels and eating an anti-inflammatory diet can also reduce the severity and frequency of breakouts.
Depending on what’s causing your acne, our team can provide a few different treatment options. We have a wide variety of skincare treatments that can ease inflammation and manage excess oil production. Steroid medications can help calm painful breakouts, too.
If fluctuating hormones in midlife are contributing to your acne, our team offers hormone replacement therapy to level your hormones and calm your skin.
To learn more about our treatments for acne-prone skin in adulthood, call or click online and schedule a consultation at your nearest Butterfly MedSpa and Wellness office in Spring or The Woodlands of Houston, Texas, today.