Acne cannot be eliminated entirely but can be managed with consistent care. Treating acne scars improves skin clarity. Regular facials, a curated daily skincare routine, and acne scar control will help you rediscover your beautiful skin. Let’s explore the main causes, treatments, and tips for managing adult acne.
What Are the Main Causes of Acne in Adults?
Understanding the root causes of adult acne can help in choosing the right treatment approach. Here are the five most common causes:
- Hormonal Changes
- Stress
- Skincare Products
- Environmental Factors
- Lifestyle Choices
Understanding the Five Common Causes of Adult Acne
Hormonal Changes
Fluctuating hormones play a significant role in adult acne. Hormonal imbalances can occur due to menstrual cycles, oral treatments, perimenopause, menopause, or changes in hormone levels. These fluctuations can stimulate sebaceous glands, leading to increased oil production and acne formation.
Stress
Adult life is often filled with increased responsibilities, leading to higher stress levels. Stress triggers the release of hormones such as cortisol, which can impact sebum production and increase the likelihood of developing acne.
Skincare Products
As skin ages, it becomes more sensitive and susceptible to reactions from skincare products. Using harsh or comedogenic products can clog pores and contribute to acne breakouts. Choosing age-appropriate skincare products is essential for maintaining skin health. Ask your Total Wrapture skin technician to make you an at-home skincare routine!
Environmental Factors
Exposure to environmental pollutants, such as air pollution or high humidity, can contribute to adult acne breakouts. These factors can clog pores, increase inflammation, and disrupt the skin’s natural balance, leading to acne flare-ups.
Lifestyle Choices
Poor diet, inadequate sleep, and lack of exercise can impact skin health. Consuming processed foods, excessive sugar, or dairy products can potentially trigger acne in some individuals. Additionally, leaning your face in your hands, holding your phone against your face, touching your face, and wearing scarves or turtlenecks can also contribute to breakouts around the chin and neck.
How Do You Get Rid of Adult Acne?
Effective treatment for adult acne requires proper cleansing, professional treatments, and a well-suited at-home skincare routine. Here are some strategies to consider.
Gentle Cleansing
Use a mild cleanser to remove excess oil and impurities without stripping the skin’s natural moisture. Look for cleansers that are non-comedogenic and free of harsh chemicals.
Professional Treatments
Get regular, professional treatments such as hydraface treatments, mesotherapy, chemical peels, and acne facials (see more on that below). These treatments target acne at a deeper level and promote healing while diminishing future scarring.
Topical Treatments
Apply products containing active ingredients such as salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and retinoids. These ingredients help to unclog pores, reduce inflammation, and promote skin cell turnover.
Lifestyle Modifications
Maintain a balanced diet, get adequate sleep, and manage stress levels. Incorporate foods rich in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids to support skin health. These include berries, leafy greens, nuts, and fish.
Treat Your Acne Scars
Consider chemical peels or microneedling for milder scars and laser treatments for more stubborn acne scars. These methods help fade, diminish, and eliminate acne scars, allowing you to regain confidence in clear skin.
What treatment should I get for moderate to widespread acne?
The non-invasive mesotherapy facial, MesoAcne, is ideal for individuals with moderate to severe acne, as it targets acne-causing bacteria, reduces inflammation, and promotes healing. It is beneficial for those who have stubborn acne breakouts, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH – dark spots or discoloration left behind after the acne has healed).
Here’s how the active ingredients in a MesoAcne facial treatment work:
- Oleanolic Acid: A natural compound found in various plants with antimicrobial properties that inhibit the growth of acne-causing bacteria.
- NDGA Acid: Helps control sebum production, which is a contributing factor in the development of acne.
- Fleischer’s Willowherb: A plant extract that soothes irritated skin, reduces redness, and alleviates inflammation associated with acne.
- Phenolic Acids: Help neutralize free radicals and aid in calming acne lesions.
With the use of specialized serums, the MesoAcne facial penetrates deep into the skin to target acne-causing bacteria. This non-invasive method helps breakouts heal faster, balances sebum production, and enhances the overall appearance of acne-prone skin, leading to a clearer and healthier complexion.
Watch a MesoAcne facial here.
You Asked, We Respond!
Here is what most people experiencing adult acne want to know:
What Does Hormonal Acne Look Like in Adults?
Hormonal acne often appears as deep, cystic breakouts around the jawline, chin, and neck. These blemishes can be painful and resistant to over-the-counter treatments. Professional treatments, pharmaceutical grade products in your home skincare routine, and acne scar removal help control its effects.
Why Am I Getting Acne at 30?
Acne at 30 can be due to hormonal fluctuations, stress, skincare products, or lifestyle factors. Women may experience breakouts related to menstrual cycles or hormonal imbalances. Acne is normal, and we encourage you to show your skin some love. Help minimize breakouts with treatments and take control of acne scars. You deserve beautiful skin, whether you are prone to acne or not.
What is a good treatment for mild to moderate acne?
The OxyGeneo superfacial, OxyBalance, is perfect if you are seeking both skin rejuvenation and to address mild to moderate acne. It oxygenates the skin, gently exfoliates, reduces inflammation, and infuses nutrient-rich serums, promoting cellular renewal and improving skin texture.
Key benefits of the activated bamboo charcoal contained in Oxy Balance:
- Mattifies oily skin
- Purifies Clogged Pores
- Clears toxins & bacteria
Here’s how an OxyGeneo facial works:
1. Exfoliation: Gentle exfoliation of the skin’s surface removes dead skin cells as well as dirt and impurities.
2. Infusion: A capsule releases active ingredients, such as activated bamboo charcoal and antioxidants, deep into the deeper layers of the skin to treat acne.
3. Oxygenation: The OxyGeneo device emits carbon dioxide bubbles onto your skin’s surface. These bubbles react with a treatment gel, causing a natural oxygenation response. As the CO2 bubbles burst, they create a gentle massage-like effect on your skin. This process stimulates increased oxygen levels in the skin, promoting blood circulation and delivering essential nutrients to the cells. This oxygenation step helps to revitalize your skin and improve its texture, leaving you with a radiant and dewy glow.
How Do I Know if My Acne is Bacterial or Hormonal?
Bacterial acne typically presents as red, inflamed pimples with pus. Hormonal acne often appears as deep, cystic breakouts on the lower face.
How to Help Fix Hormonal Acne Naturally?
Natural supports to boost professional facials and a good at-home skincare routine for hormonal acne include:
- Dietary Changes: Incorporate foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and fiber. This includes chia seeds, brussel sprouts, and walnuts.
- Life Balance: Practice stress-relief techniques such as yoga, meditation, and regular exercise. Exercise improves skin health and helps reduce acne by increasing blood circulation, reducing stress, and promoting the removal of toxins through sweating.
Can I get a chemical peel for acne?
Yes! Peels are a great exfoliating option for acne-prone skin.
A peel is well-suited to address your clogged pores, blackheads, and somewhat regular breakouts. It exfoliates the skin, unclogs pores, and reduces acne-causing bacteria.
Peels help improve skin texture, reduce acne blemishes, and fade post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. They are suitable for various skin types experiencing acne-related concerns. Here are our two favourite peels for addressing acne:
Image Acne Peel: This peel is specifically formulated to target acne-prone skin. It utilizes a blend of alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs) to exfoliate the skin, unclog pores, and promote cellular turnover. This peel helps diminish acne blemishes and refine the skin’s texture.
Image Purifying Peel: This peel incorporates antibacterial agents that target the acne-causing bacteria Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes). By reducing the presence of these bacteria on the skin, inflammation is minimized and the formation of inflammatory acne lesions is diminished. It also helps reduce post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), the name for dark spots or discoloration left behind after the acne has healed. This peel contains ingredients that help fade PIH, promoting a more even skin tone.
Can a Bad Gut Cause Acne?
Yes, a poor gut health can contribute to acne. An imbalance in necessary bacteria (that live in your digestive system and aid in digestion) can lead to inflammation and increased oil production, triggering acne. Incorporate probiotics and prebiotics (healthy, live microorganisms) into your diet and avoid processed foods. You can find probiotics in foods such as yogurt and miso, while prebiotics are present in foods like garlic, onions, bananas, asparagus, and whole grains.
Does Adult Acne Eventually Go Away?
Adult acne can be persistent. Consistent skincare, lifestyle tweaks, and professional treatments helps manage and reduce acne.
Although acne is managed rather than eliminated, you deserve to live in your healthiest, most beautiful skin. Monthly facials, a curated daily skincare routine, and acne scar control will help you fall in love with your skin again.