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I’m Not a Teenager. How Am I Still Getting Acne?

When you have acne as a teenager, it’s difficult and can be painful, especially if you’re active and have to deal with outbreaks, sweat, and constantly cleaning your face and other parts of your body where acne appears. Though it can be even harder on your self-esteem, teenage acne is expected. However, as we grow up, we typically assume our acne will dissipate as the hormones in the body calm and become more stable. But changing hormones, athletics, and stress from school aren’t the only causes of acne. Here is why acne often appears well into adulthood and what you can do about it.

What Causes Acne?

Acne occurs when the oil glands of the skin overproduce oil and skin cells. This is much more common with hormonal changes, like in teenagers, but can also happen to pregnant women, women going through menopause, or an overabundance of testosterone and oil blockage of the hair follicle in men.

Though your hormones can still be settling well into your 20s, there are plenty of other causes of acne. Those who experience high-stress situations, like their first year of graduate school, moving to a new city, or starting their own business, can experience acne outbreaks. When you are this stressed, the adrenal glands make more cortisol, the stress hormone, which can hurt the skin by causing an imbalance.

Physical stress, like extreme weather, lack of sleep, and exposure to environmental hazards, can also affect the skin. Lifestyle choices and medications, like some antidepressants, often cause acne in adults too.

What Acne Treatment Is Right for Me?

There are plenty of options to cure your acne, and it depends on its severity and what your dermatologist recommends. For mild acne, you can wash your face twice a day with a mild face wash recommended by your dermatologist, use non-comedogenic makeup if you wear makeup, and use topical gels and lotions.

You may also want to invest in a facial to smooth, clean, and revitalize the skin. Facials will leave you with a clean slate and give you a chance to explore other avenues to take with your dermatologist regarding your adult acne. For some, a chemical peel is a great option to remove acne and some scarring, giving your skin a fresh glow once the skin has completely healed.

Platelet-Rich Plasma treatments are another great option for treating acne. Not only will you be able to treat current acne and acne scars, but this treatment can also access other parts of your body, so you’re not just treating acne on your face. There are some side effects and restrictions to this form of treatment, but your dermatologist will be able to determine if this is the right treatment for you.

However, if you have severe adult acne and nothing else has seemed to work, you will need to take more drastic measures. In these cases, an acne medication may be right for you. Your dermatologist can recommend the right potency so you can see your acne dissipate and move on with your life with beautiful, smooth skin, free of acne and acne scars.

We Can Help!

If you’re ready to get rid of adult acne for good, our dermatologists can help. Southeast Dermatology Specialists are here to answer any questions and help you get the skin you’re confident in. We have locations in Douglasville, Columbus, Cartersville, and Rome, GA. Request an appointment today!

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