How to Avoid Adult Acne

It’s not fair. Having outgrown all those other adolescent problems, why are you still stuck with acne? Adult acne affects at least 25 percent of adult men and 50 percent of adult women at some time. If you have recurring breakouts, it’s nice to know you’re not alone, but even nicer to make them stop.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Non-comedogenic skin-care products and makeup
• Mild facial cleanser
• Salicylic acid products

1. Check the products you use on your face and hair. Hair conditioners, gels, shaving products, moisturizers, sunscreens and cosmetics can clog pores and create breakouts for some people. Minimize the number of products you use. If your skin is oily, do you really need moisturizer? And look for products that say “non-comedogenic,” as these are less likely to aggravate acne.
2. Keep your hands away from your face as much as possible. Resting your chin on your hands or rubbing your nose can encourage the growth of bacteria and cause breakouts. Picking at pimples can drive bacteria deeper into the skin, potentially increasing inflammation and scarring.
3. Wash your skin very gently. Harsh cleansers or irritating procedures can make acne worse by stimulating excess oil production. Use mild soap on your face once or twice a day. Use your hands instead of a rough washcloth. Pat dry.
4. Rinse off perspiration as soon as possible after you exercise. Sweat can mix with skin oils and trap substances in your pores. At least towel off, and change into dry clothes.
5. Keep stress levels under control. Cortisol, a stress hormone, can stimulate over-production of oil, which mixes with dead skin cells and bacteria to create breakouts. Read other eHow articles for tips on relieving stress.
6. Try over-the-counter salicylic acid remedies. These gently exfoliate the skin’s surface to remove dead skin cells, oils and other pore-blocking substances.
7. Talk to a dermatologist if you still have breakouts after a month or two of these simple prevention methods. She may recommend treatments such as azelaic acid cream, alpha-hydroxy acids, topical antibiotics, birth control pills for women, or Accutane or Sotret for severe acne. No one treatment works for everyone because acne has a variety of causes.

Tips & Warnings

• To reduce bacteria, wash exercise-gear straps that rub against your skin or headbands used during exercise often.
• Even non-comedogenic and dermatologist-tested products cause acne for some people. That’s why it’s important to use as few products as possible.
• Minimize products and makeup while exercising because even oil-free and non-comedogenic products can clog pores during heavy exercise.
• Cleansing products that claim to be made for acne-prone skin can be too harsh for adult acne and worsen the problem.
• Benzoyl peroxide is an acne treatment often recommended for adults as well as teenagers, but be aware that this treatment can make some adult acne worse by causing irritation. If you’re going to try it, use the lowest available concentration--about 2 percent.