What are the causes of acne?

Nobody really knows what causes acne in adults. There are a lot of theories, and many of them link acne to the following:

  • Hormonal changes (e.g., menstrual cycle, pregnancy, or starting or stopping birth control pills)
  • Medication side effects
  • Allergic reactions to foods or cosmetics
  • Genetics

It’s frustrating to experienced acne as an adult, just when you thought you’d left breakouts behind in your teen years. Sometimes people who never had any problems when they were younger get adult acne, and it’s more than just a cosmetic problem.

Adult Acne Distressing

Blemishes marring your skin as an adult are distressing, embarrassing and genuinely affect your quality of life. In a very appearance conscious world, battling skin breakouts is upsetting, and many people try everything they can to get rid of the problem. One in 5 adults between the ages of 25 and 44 experiences adult acne, negatively impacting their self-esteem.

 

There is no single cause of acne, so there isn’t any one magic cure. Acne is influenced by several factors, but the way you treat your skin does play a pivotal role. You can minimise the chances of break-outs and eliminate acne on your face, back, shoulders and chest by making changes to some areas of your life.

Hair and Skin Products

Hair conditioners, gels, shaving products, cosmetics, moisturizers, sunscreens, and other products containing oil can clog your pores, causing a break-out. Thérapie Clinic offer products like Dr. Murad, Image and the queen of cleansing, Eve Lom, that are specifically “noncomedogenic”, designed to not clog pores. This alone can make a big difference to your skin.

Hands Off

Part of the acne problem lies in the growth of bacteria within the pore, so if you tend to rest your chin in your hands or touch your face a lot, you are unwittingly encouraging the growth of bacteria and cause infection to areas already inflamed by acne.

 

Don’t pick or squeeze no matter how tempting, as this drives bacteria deeper into the skin. It will lead to more inflammation, probably to infection, and worst-case scenario, to permanent scarring.

Constant Washing makes Acne Worse

People with acne have an overriding need to feel clean, and tend to use harsh scrubs, rough towels, and over- wash their face. All of these just make the problem worse. Acne isn’t caused by dirt, so washing with harsh substances does not solve the problem, and alcohol based products cause drying of the skin, leading to over-production of oil in an effort to compensate. This just leads to even more blemishes.

 

At Thérapie Clinic, you can get good advice on recommended products to use in all stages of your fight against acne, and avoid irritating or inflaming your skin any further.

Sweat causes Problems

Physical activity heats up the body, and perspiration mixes with surface skin oils. Together, they combine to trap substances in your pores, worsening acne. Rinse off after a work-out or in warm weather, and avoid wearing tight things against your skin. If you wear hats or a helmet for any length of time, ensure that they are clean to reduce bacteria.

Watch your Stress Level

When the body is under stress, we produce stress hormones like cortisol, which can stimulate an over-production of oil from the sebaceous glands in the skin. This excess oil mixes with dead skin cells and bacteria, causing acne to develop and increasing breakouts.

 

It’s hard to control stress, but try to get enough exercise which helps regulate cortisol, as well as sufficient rest.

 

Call Thérapie Clinic on 1890 650 750 to book a free consultation and get the best advice about how to get rid of your adult acne.