Adult Acne: Shouldn’t This Have Ended Years Ago?

Would someone please tell our skin that puberty is over? It ended years ago, and still we are dealing with the aftermath. Why do adult women have the kind of acne we experienced as teenagers? The large, inflamed, all over your face type that blisters up out of nowhere and manages to come the morning of a large, important event…and stay for days.

At first we assumed it was hormonal as it cropped up around that PMS week. Lately, I have been hearing more women complain of acne all month long that never seems to go away or follow a pattern.

Guess what? It can still be hormonal, just not necessarily the type you are thinking. Acne along the jaw line is traditionally considered “hormonal acne.” This could be due to your female hormones of estrogen and progesterone, your testosterone or DHEA levels, your thyroid, your blood sugar and insulin, and/or your adrenals. I suggest having a full hormonal work-up to see if you are out of balance.

Acne may also be due to the foods we put in our body. High carbohydrate diets tend to cause more swelling of our tissue resulting in more acne on our face. The cells swell up and trap bacteria and debris inside resulting in cystic mounds. High sugar diets create the same results. I suggest eating more proteins with every meal and cutting out the juices, soda, and sugar in your coffee, candies, cookies and other unnecessary sweets. Limit your breads and pastas too. Also consider cutting dairy out of your diet for a month and watch the results. I know it’s hard but your skin cells will thank-you.

What are you putting on your face? Heavy chemical cleansers full of fragrance may inflame your skin. Opt for more environmentally friendly cleansers and moisturizers that nourish and protect without leaching and striping.

Lastly, what are you putting on your hair? All that hairspray, gel, frizz-tamer, and scented chemical shampoo locks into your strands that then brush against your jaw line, forehead, and cheeks all day long. Read labels and opt for more organic, face friendly brands.