Just when you thought your years of acne breakouts were decades behind you, blemishes (zits) can show back up at any time—and they can break through regardless of how well you care for your skin. So what causes these annoying and embarrassing flare-ups?
The answer is simple. It’s the same reason you broke out in your teens—hormones and stress.
Acne actually forms deep in your hair follicles. Each of those tiny “micro-hairs” on your face has a hair follicle—which secretes sebum, an oily mixture that keeps your skin moist. This all works perfectly, until times of hormonal changes (like menopause), or stress comes along.
Unlike other menopause symptoms, which are often due to changes in your female hormones, such as your estrogen levels, with acne, you can blame the male hormone androgen.
During hormonal changes, your body starts to produce more androgen, which changes the pH of your skin. This change causes those sebaceous glands in your skin to produce too much sebum, resulting in acne.
While you may be tempted to use over-the-counter treatments formulated for teens on your adult acne, we'd recommend you don't. Most of these products contain unnatural chemicals that Dr. Lark never recommends using on your skin. Plus, these creams can irritate your skin even more, causing additional or worsened flare-ups.
There are several excellent, natural skin care products on the market that can help clear up adult acne—safely and gently. Here are our top picks for clear, blemish-free skin:
For Clearing-Up Pimples and Blemishes: Take a look at
ThermaClear. This hand-held device uses Thermal Pulse Technology™ to deliver a controlled burst of heat to individual pimples, clearing them up in as little as 24 hours.
To Treat Whiteheads: Try the
Badescu Drying Lotion , which is the secret the stars use for flawless skin. It heals and dries blemishes overnight.
For On-the-Go Touch Ups: Devita's
Essential Control for Blemishes contains an all-natural blend of rare essential oils that fight acne flare-ups. What’s nice is that it comes in an easy to use roll-on, so there’s no mess.
To Prevent Breakouts Before they Happen: Dr. Lark recommends a blend of salicylic acid, aloe vera gel, and witch hazel which you can find in Devita's
Acne Solution Pads. These pads gently clean deep into your pores, removing acne-causing dirt and make-up—so blemishes don’t erupt.
The bottom line is you shouldn’t have to put up with adult acne. These natural skin care solutions can help you enjoy clear, blemish-free skin every day.