Why am I getting adult acne?!
You have generally great skin most of the time, but once and a while you notice angry & sore breakouts on your lower face - do you panic, declare yourself an acne prone and book a dermatologist appointment for treatment? No. You’re normal and this is why 👉🏼Of all the areas of the face, the chin, neck, and jawline is the most common place to get acne—especially in adults. This is often due to hormonal shifts and imbalances. Estrogen helps to suppress oil production in the skin, and progesterones do the opposite. When estrogen levels drop (usually a week before your period - you skin may start looking dull, lacklustre, and drier), the progesterone levels increase. With this shift, the hormones (high levels of progesterone) stimulate oil production, which leads to an increase of bacteria trapped in the pores. Add in some testosterone produced by the ovaries to the mix, which also increases sebum production, and you have the perfect recipe for blemish disaster 💥This combination of hormonal activity results in the skins moisture loss, sensitivity and lovely clusters of painful pustule or sore cystic monsters. These types of chin pimples usually don’t respond very quickly to traditional drying spot treatments. Since chin and jawline breakouts tend to be cystic (bigger blemishes deep under the skin), spot treatments dry out the surface but leave the bump underneath. Sound familiar? Also, since cysts are large and severe, they can last for 1-3 weeks and leave red, dark scars that linger even longer. Especially if they are picked at and bothered.
What can you do to prevent? 🤔
- always take probiotics - can help metabolize hormones from food sources which can offset the symptoms of PMS including hormonal acne
- Know your cycle and plan your skin care accordingly - introduce oil controlling moisturizer and salicylic acids a week prior to your period and during; and hydrating products with gentle exfoliants the rest of the time when your skin is normalized
- Omega oils will maintain supple skin and reduce inflammation in your body and skin. Excess oils, bacteria and Inflammation in the pores can lead to very angry cystic blemishes that can leave pigmented scars behind
- Avoid foods such as dairy, refined sugar, caffeine, carbonated bevs, alcohol - swap them out with high fibre, fruits and vegetables and this will make your mind, skin and body more happy
- Drink MORE water (x2 or x3 your usual) 👌🏼