“There’s nothing to worry about, your body is just going through hormonal changes since you’re just a teenager. By the time that you are already an adult, all your acne will be gone!”
Is this line familiar to you? If you spent your teenage years with a pimple ridden face, I’m sure you have heard this one too many times and you have probably put all your hopes into this.
But what if you’re still going through a couple of acne breakouts from time to time now that you’re an adult, do you also wonder when does acne stop?
Well, the answer is different for every person. If you want to know the answer, then keep on reading below.
When Does Acne Stop?
Acne is a very common skin problem that normally begins in our teenage years. Some undergo aggressive treatments just to get rid of acne as they age while some resolve the problem without any treatment at all. Normally, acne will stop when your hormone starts to settle down in your early to mid-20s. Some even noticed that their breakouts have stopped during their late teen years or when they were around 17 to 18 years old.
However, there are some adults that still often get acne breakouts even during their 30s, 40s and beyond. There are even some who suffers from breakouts all through their life until their senior years.
Now that we know the likelihood of when does acne stop, all we can do is to know what’s causing it and how can we stop it.
What Causes Acne Breakout?
Resolving your acne problems now that you’re an adult might be difficult, but I assure you, you’re not the only grown up dealing with this complexion woes. So let’s try to discover what could possibly be causing your acne – this is the best way you can clear up your skin and keep breakouts at bay.
1. You can blame your hormones.
Have you ever noticed how your acne starts breaking out days before your menstruation? Well, this is because of the fluctuations of your hormones particularly the androgens. The condition often results in cystic acne around your chin and neck.
2. You are suffering from too much stress.
Stress is another culprit of acne since it can cause hormonal changes. Whether you work tirelessly in the office for eight hours, a full-time mom who does all the household chores or even juggling both, there’s a great chance that your stress levels are way too high.
Stress can trigger your body to produce stress hormones called cortisol which could drive your oil glands to produce excessive oil that may clog your pores and cause breakouts.
Also, taking stimulants like Adderall can also increase your cortisol level and cause acne. So make sure you check the products being prescribed to you as they may also be the cause of your breakouts.
3. You are using skincare products not suitable for your skin type.
It is very important that you build a skincare routine that’s perfect for your skin.
For instance, if you have dry skin, avoid alcohol-based toners and astringents as they will only be stripping your skin’s moisture that will lead to a breakout. If you have oily or combination skin and you are vulnerable to breakouts, I suggest you use skincare products with labels that say “oil-free”, “water-based” or “non-comedogenic”. This is to make sure that the product you are slathering on your skin won’t be clogging your pores and will make things worse.
Mineral oil commonly found in some lotions and silicones in most skincare and cosmetics are known to clog pores and break you out. So make sure you watch out for these ingredients.
4. You are over cleansing your face.
If you wash your face too frequently, then you are making your acne worse. Don’t cleanse your face more than twice a day as it will dry out your skin. If your skin does not have enough moisture, it tends to produce more oil to compensate which may clog your pores and lead to acne.
Often, health conditions like hypothyroidism can also worsen your acne condition. This is because hypothyroidism lowers down the secretion of your oil glands which could make your skin coarse and dry.
5. The foods you’re eating may have an effect.
Well, we already heard how some foods are allegedly causing acne breakouts, like oily foods, chocolate as well as caffeinated drinks. Even peanut butter is said to make your skin breakout. Though there’s no proven study yet that links the food we eat to your skin condition, there will always be exceptions.
If you notice eating chocolate breaks you out, then don’t eat chocolate. Take note sugar is also acne-culprit. When your insulin levels increase, it will trigger our body’s inflammatory response that can lead to clogged pores. And remember, acne itself is a form of inflammation.
Eating spicy foods can also be the cause of your zits due to its acidic lycopene that can be irritant to some people, it disturbs the pH levels of their skin and triggers acne breakout.
6. Your smoking habit is affecting your skin.
Every time you smoke, you reduce the amount of oxygen that goes to your face which will break down collagen and elastin that results in the appearance of wrinkles and increase the size of pores. The carcinogens of smoke are also skin-irritant and will even dry your skin, triggering your production of excessive oil and possibly more breakouts.
Final Thought
I know it can be very frustrating not knowing exactly when does acne stop. You patiently waited until your 20s to finally achieve the clear skin you’ve always been dreaming but only to learn it the hard way that these wicked breakouts don’t necessarily end as your teenage years do.
But what matters is that we know what’s causing our acne breakouts and doing our best to manage it like building the best skin care routine. How about you, what do you do whenever your acne starts popping out? Share with us your helpful tips in the comment section below, I’m sure your fellow readers would appreciate it.
And oh, please don’t forget to share this article with your friends.