A friend of mine I recently had dinner with （we adhered to social distancing guidelines by sitting diagonally from each other, mind you recently lamented about the sudden emergence of acne around the area that she covers her face mask with,
What perturbed me was the fact that she’s a 36-year-old mother of two, and acne was supposed to be plaguing her when she was half her age.
At the exact moment, I decided to call it as it is and hit her with a very worrying realisation：adult acne is a very real thing – especially with hordes of adults with face masks on, leaving bacteria no room for escape and depriving the skin of oxygen.
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Adult Acne: What Makes It Pop
One of the main causes of adult acne has something to do with what you went through as a teenager. During your years as a pimply teen, you undergo hormonal fluctuations, where your estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone levels are constantly going up and down.
Irregular hormonal levels give rise to increase sebum production, which causes the clogged pores that lead to acne.
These hormonal changes do not just come to a halt after puberty unfortunately. Even in adulthood, factors alike menstrual cycles, birth control, pregnancy, and menopause make sure that these fluctuations still occur, giving you no respite for your acne woes.
As you transition into adulthood, you might find your stress levels increasing as well. Because with great (spending) power, comes great responsibility.
When we get stressed, we release this hormone known as cortisol. A surge in your cortisol count causes your oil glands to release more sebum, heightening the likelihood of clogged pores and in turn, acne and blackheads.
It is therefore important to take a breather when things get too rough. You do not want all your troubles to manifest in the form of acne on your face.
For all users of makeup and beauty products, the composition of these products can also determine the severity of your adult acne.
Another point to note: strictly use fragrance-free products, and non-comedogenic (do not clog the pores and cause blackheads).
Once you’ve done well to avoid these products, keep an eye out for products containing salicylic acid – and SWEAR by them.
Salicylic acid is a component that masterfully brings up blackheads caused by clogged pores to the surface of your skin, and unclogs these pores by dissolving these blackheads.
Combine the usage of products containing salicylic acid with cleansing agents that contain glycolic acid, to help clear off the dead skin and debris on the surface left from the dissolution of the blackheads, and give your skin the unclogging and exfoliating it needs.
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5 Hits to Stop the Zits
With the chief causes of adult acne now identified, it is only fair that I shed some light on some of the definitive solutions that have been tried and tested, and proven to have bested acne and its derivatives.
Here are 5 of the best products on the market that might help to vanquish that blemish.
Skin Rescue. Sometimes a niggling acne issue will give rise to other skin ailments like pigmentation or skin redness. This is where this product comes in handy.
This grease-free formula contains an advanced form of Vitamin C that is a triple threat to acne, pigmentation, and redness all at the same time, and restores the clarity and vitality to your skin while also hydrating it.
Pico Smooth. No prizes for guessing what this treatment does for you. The Broadband Light (BBL) technology is one of the newest offerings in the aesthetics market and is much lauded for its brutal efficiency.
This is a 3-pronged approach that starts with eliminating acne bacteria at its very core, followed by reduction of inflammation and redness, and culminating in the stimulation and acceleration of the natural healing process of the body.
Clear Tonic. This is a staple item to own if you find yourself having to deal with a very oily face.
Formulated for the ones with the overzealous sebum production line, this skin tonic works overtime to clear out the clogs in pores, dry up the zits, and allow enlarged pores to shrink. Also mattifies the complexion with one spritz – you don’t even need makeup for that matt look anymore.
SmartX Lite Laser. If machines are truly slated to be taking over the world, lasers have already established a strong foothold in the beauty world.
Another one of the latest in laser technology, this FDA-approved treatment adds acne scars to its impressive repertoire of what it can eviscerate. Combining a pulsed laser with a dynamic cooling device, this procedure is comfort and results, all in one wholesome package.
Clear Blue. If you’re feeling a little greedy, and find the previously mentioned 3-step programs insufficient to put you out of your acne-laden misery, Clear Blue is the 5-step therapy you need.
Cleansing, exfoliation, light therapy, facial peels, and a collagen mask make up the comprehensive components of this spa treatment… and did I mention it’s a spa treatment?
Would anyone say no to waking up to a purified and glowing complexion after a 60-minute nap?
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