Suffering from breakouts after leaving your teens behind can be downright depressing. Why did no one ever say that acne isn’t just a teenage thing? Breaking out in spots as an adult can be embarrassing and upsetting, and can give your confidence a real knock. It’s easy to feel self-conscious when you’re skin’s spotty, but there’s no need to get upset as adult acne is incredibly common. (Two in five people suffer from adult acne – that’s 40 percent of the population.)
It might be irritating and upsetting to have breakouts in your twenties but the good news is getting shot of them for good isn’t difficult. It’s just a case of making a few beauty and lifestyle changes, and your skin will be a lot less prone to spots. The only problem is that there are so many myths out there about the best ways to achieve spot-free skin that it can be hard to know what to believe. Luckily for you, I’ve put together this guide to help you get shot of those spots once and for all.
Start with lifestyle changes
The most common cause of adult acne in women is smoking. So if you smoke, you need to take the steps to quit. It might not be easy – cigarettes are addictive after all, but if you want clear skin, it’s what you have to do. While it’s best to quit altogether, if that’s not an option, switch to vaping. (Your skin will clear up significantly as you won’t be surrounding it with smoke.)
Did you know that sugar causes the skin to become inflamed leading to breakouts? If you’re someone who has a high sugar consumption and suffer from acne, this could be the route cause. It might be hard giving up sugar, but you’ll find that your skin will be much better for it. Swap from snacking on processed snacks to fresh fruit, and within a week or two you’ll see a difference.
If you’re not drinking, at least, six to eight glasses of water each day, you need to start. While water isn’t directly linked to breakouts, it is related to healthy skin. The healthier your skin is, the less prone you’ll be to acne, which is why drinking enough water is important. Aim to drink up to eight glasses of water each day – if you’re not a fan of plain water, infuse it with fruit.
Change how you care for your skin
If you’re not taking the time to cleanse your skin each evening, this could be behind your breakouts. During the day, our skin gets covered in dirt and oil, which if not removed before bed, can lead to spots. Make sure that every night before going to bed, you remove your makeup and cleanse your face. It’s best to steer clear of facial wipes as these tend to move the dirt and oil around your face, instead of removing it.
Many of us make the mistake of not checking the ingredients in our beauty products before we use them. There are some ingredients – mostly chemical based ones that can damage your skin and make flare-ups worse. Make sure always to opt for natural products wherever possible, as these are less likely to upset your skin and cause breakouts.
There are some products that have been created especially for skin that’s prone to acne and breakouts. If you want to give your skin a better chance of fighting breakouts, it’s a good idea to give some of these products a try. One of the most popular acne clearing products at the moment is this 15% glycolic acid serum. As well as reducing acne and scars, this product also makes your skin softer and smoother.
There are also natural products you can try, such as witch hazel, aloe vera and tea tree oil-based cleansers and creams. Because of the antibacterial properties that these contain, they’re amazing for preventing breakouts. It can be a case of trial and error as what works for one person, may not work for another. So you may need to try a few different products out, to see which ones work best for you.
The cardinal sin of acne prone skin is caking your face in makeup. You might feel unconfident about how your skin looks, but smothering it in concealer and foundation is only going to make it worse. If you’re going to wear makeup, make sure it’s a natural brand that you’re using, and only apply a light amount.
Adult acne may feel like a cruel joke from the skin gods, but it’s actually incredibly common. Don’t let your skin get you down, be proactive and find ways to help prevent breakouts in the future.
