Right when you thought you were done with your struggle of fighting acne as a teenager, you welcome adult acne. That’s one thing you never add to your nostalgia list when missing your teenage years. However, acne is also a symptom of aging skin, where you notice a sprinkling of pimples on your face along with blemishes and wrinkles.
Acne is a problem for women of all ages. It even affects around 12% of women [1] between the ages of 41 and 50. Regardless of the age, pimples are usually the result of oily, blocked pores. It’s about skincare that we take for granted until we see pimples reappearing as we are aging.
Just like the early years, other influencing factors behind adult acne are our lifestyle, stress, dietary imbalances, lack of proper skin care, and of course, the trouble-makers ‘hormones’.
Here are top five ways you can deal with acne to get a more youthful, clearer skin.
1. Lack of Balanced Diet
Lack of a balanced diet and consuming too many refined carbs are major causes of adult acne. If you take a lot of junk food and sugar in your diet, pimples are a natural side effect. Following a more balanced and a low-glycemic index diet is the key. Researchers reveal how increased insulin levels in the blood can trigger hormones to produce more oil and inflame follicles.
Keeping a check on the glycemic reading of the foods you are eating can take you closer to a healthier, balanced diet.
2. Blue Light Therapy
This tech-advanced skin therapy is also a great way to treat adult acne. The powerful rays of blue light penetrate through the follicles to kill the acne bacteria. Redness of the skin is a possible side effect of this therapy, but it is only temporary. However, this is a good option if you are not on a budget.
3. Tea Tree Oil
A very well-known and less harsh cousin of benzoyl peroxide, tea tree oil is highly effective in treating mild to moderate acne regardless of the age. Tea tree oil has natural antiseptic properties that help clear the blocked pores and keep the oil from coming to the skin surface.
The oil also naturally quells skin inflammation. You can find tea tree oil in different varieties including topical lotions, washes, and soaps.
4. Reduce Salt Intake
Time to get rid of that salt shaker from your dining area. Doctors highly suspect sodium to be one of the most prominent reasons why you may experience a worse acne breakout. Control your sodium intake and stick to low-sodium versions when eating out or buying packaged foods.
It’s best to keep your consumption below 1500mg in a day.
5. Manage Stress
Stress is another major factor that triggers the hormones in a negative way. Stress does not affect the skin directly. But whenever you are under stress, it naturally makes pimples and blemishes appear on your skin. The stress hormone boosts inflammation levels in the body, which further stimulates oil glands and its production.
The best way is to manage stress through meditation, exercise, or any other way that works for you.
Final Word
For the best results, make a few dietary and lifestyle changes along with seeing a professional dermatologist to learn more about retinoids and topical antibacterials that work for you and help you get rid of adult acne.
[1] https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/17/fashion/adult-women-battle-acne.html
Image Source: keeperofthehome.org