Teenage acne has a different set of causes than adult acne. If you are past your teenage years and still suffering from acne, you must determine the underlying cause. Knowing the common reasons for adult acne can help you avoid things that can aggravate your problem. However, it is recommended to visit a medical dermatologist woodmere, for the best solution.
If you have acne, you are not alone. Research shows that about 15% of women suffer from acne. Adult acne usually occurs on the lower half of the face, while teenage acne appears on the top half. Adult acne can be more serious as they appear like bigger cysts and look like they are “under the skin.” Visit a specialist for treatment today.
Surprising causes of acne in adults
- Fluctuating hormones.
Hormones like estrogen and progesterone can fluctuate inside your body for several reasons. For example, they are more likely to fluctuate the most during menopause and pregnancy. Changes in hormones are a common cause of adult acne. Starting, stopping, or changing a birth control pill can cause or worsen your acne problem. Such changes can even occur after months of making changes in your birth control intake.
- Dirty cloth face mask.
While your face mask may not be your first guess, but it may be breaking you out. If you have noticed breakouts on your jawline, cheeks, or chin and wear a cloth face mask for long hours during the day, you may have mask acne or maskne. Oil, sweat, humidity, and bacteria trapped under your face mask can cause acne and pimples. It can also make your skin dry and itchy.
- Hairstyling products touching your skin.
Hairstyling products are meant for your hair and not for your skin for a good reason. Breakouts caused by hairstyling products are extremely common and have a separate name– pomade acne. Styling products touching your forehead can seep oils and trap acne-causing bacteria in your pores, leading to breakouts. Clogged pores become inflamed red and filled with pus, ultimately developing into black and whiteheads.
- Stress.
Research shows that stress has various effects on the human body, including the skin. Stress is a causal factor in acne and pimples. When you are stressed, the level of acne-causing hormones called androgens increases in your body. Stress can also make people lose sleep, which is another cause of acne.
- Not washing face before bed.
If you are not washing your face before bed, you are basically inviting the bacteria you collected throughout the day to ruin your skin overnight. It is important to clean your face with an oil cleanser first and then with a gentle foam cleanser.
