8 Common Causes For Adult Acne

There’s nothing worse than looking into the mirror in the morning and seeing a pimple has sprung up overnight. Generally, maybe a little makeup or some Blemish Control Gel can help eliminate its obvious appearance.

As a teenager, it is practically expected and usually over once puberty has ended. But what happens when you’re an adult and this was supposed to be done with a long time ago?

Fortunately, there may be some logical reasons why your skin is reacting this way.

#1 Hormones. This is one of the more obvious answers which could be the cause of breakouts. Many factors might make your hormones go out of whack. Keep track of the time of the month or lifestyle you lead and see if you see a pattern.

#2 Clogged Pores. It is entirely possible your skin isn’t as clean as you would like it to be. This can cause cysts or blemishes to spring up that might otherwise easily be kept under control.

Changing the type of moisturizer you use and making sure to thoroughly remove makeup every night. Washing regularly with a gentle gel cleanser be what you need to help your skin to remain acne-free.

#3 Bacteria. A friend with clogged pores, bacteria can be one of the primary reasons for breakouts. No two strains have the same effect on a person and could give your pores an infection which often leads to pimples.

Bacteria can come from your pillowcase, dirty makeup brushes (should be cleaning them weekly), phone (if being held to your face).

It’s important to note and keep in mind that research suggests that the severity and frequency of acne depend on the strain of bacteria. Not all acne bacteria trigger pimples. In fact, there is one strain that helps to keep the skin pimple-free. 

#4 Contact Irritation. Sometimes just touching something could cause blisters or welts. If you notice you seem to break out after something comes in contact with your skin, that might be the source of your acne. Such as new makeup foundation, or moisturizer.

#5 Emotional Stress. Many of us lead strenuous lives and keeping it in check can be a chore in itself. If the acne only just started after a bout of difficulty in your life, that could easily be the reason why you are noticing breakouts now.

Daily deep breaths can help to relax and calm your mind and body. Try taking 10 deep breaths anytime you are feeling overwhelmed.

# 6 Physical Stress. Starting up a new routine at the gym or frequent travel can be taxing on the body. During times of physical or emotional stress the body releases cortisol. It is a stress hormone that can affect your skin and is often released when you are under duress. Once a threat passes, cortisol levels typically return to normal, and the body recovers from its effects.

But when stress is chronic, cortisol levels remain elevated. And in the long run, this can contribute to a host of problems, including skin problems.

#7 Medications. Prescriptions can have unusual side effects listed on the warning label of the bottle. If you have started a new medicine recently, it is possible it could be the culprit behind your adult acne. This would include birth control pills as well.

#8 Food. Allergies can be a likely factor in breakouts. If you notice you have a flare up after something you consume, that could be the reason while you are having issues with your skin now.

One food in particular might be dairy. Dairy sources that contain hormones, including certain types of steroids and growth hormones. Unfortunately, these stimulate acne, too.

The same has been found for protein powder shakes that contain casein and whey, as well; if you’re using these shakes as substitutes for food, consider eliminated them for 30 days and see if you notice a change in your skin.

It can be quite simple to eliminate your acne once you have discovered what is causing it.

One topical solution to getting breakouts to heal and fade as quickly as possible is to use a skin lightening, exfoliating and anti-inflammatory product like Natural Skin Brightening Complex. This powerful treatment will significantly help heal the blemish faster.

Alternatively, Tonic Active is a great spot treatment for when you feel a blemish beginning to form.

I hope this information has been informative. Let us know if you have any questions or suggestions.

Editorial Sources and Fact-Checking

1. J Invest Dermatol. 2013 Sep;133(9):2152-60. doi: 10.1038/jid.2013.21. Epub 2013 Jan 21. Propionibacterium acnes strain populations in the human skin microbiome associated with acne.
2. F. William Danby MD. - Nutrition and acne. Volume 28, Issue 6, November–December 2010