As you probably know already, pimples or zits are the result of skin pore blockage. Excess oil production, dead skin cells and bacteria can all block your pores.

Unfortunately, for most people, regardless of age,  if the underlying factors or causes of acne are not properly addressed,  then it may never disappear.

Did you know that 26% of 40 year olds and 12% of 50 year olds have acne? Did you also know that about 10% of females that developed acne in their adolescence will suffer from very oily skin during their entire life?

Acne during puberty will usually disappear by itself when you reach your early 20s.

An excess of androgen, or male sex hormones increase oil production in your sebaceous glands. When follicles get clogged and sebum is trapped and bacteria flourishes . The end result of that process is acne.

While teen acne is caused by increased oil production, adult acne is typically caused by hormonal changes and chronic stress. 

Women are more likely to deal with adult acne because their hormones can fluctuate for decades due to factors such as menstrual cycles, pregnancy, menopause, PCOS or other hormone related health issues.

In most women, hormones will balance only as they reach menopause.

In men though, some may experience andropause or male menopause in their 50s. This condition causes androgen levels including testosterone to decrease thus triggering acne flare-ups. 

No one knows exactly how long acne will last for each person. Many teens find that their acne improves as they get older and that it almost disappears by the time they reach their twenties.

And as noted above, others will have acne well into their adult years.

You can, however, prevent this from happening whether you are a teenager or a 40 year old adult.

Dramatically changing your lifestyle including eating a very clean diet and doing some form of exercise which boosts the immune system while enhancing detoxification can prevent hormonal fluctuations and stress.

Need guidance on how to get rid of your acne? Check out my Acne No More program

The post At what age pimples stop growing? first appeared on Mike Walden's Acne Blog.

The post At what age pimples stop growing? appeared first on Mike Walden's Acne Blog.

If this seems to strike a nerve in you– then the good news is you are not the only one.

But the bad news is just the other side of the coin – adult acne is on an overdrive, cures seem inefficient, and the rising adult acne trends are well on its way to depict the dimensions of an epidemic!

A new research report submitted at the 70th Annual Meeting of American Academy of Dermatology reveals that acne is prevalent in over 50 percent of women between the ages of 20 and 29 years, and in over 25 percent of women between the ages of 40-49 years.

Your acne concerns are beyond skin and health. It is an issue of psychology and confidence. How on earth do you carry out a leadership role with a big, ugly zit on your face?

While teenagers tend to get it on their forehead and middle of the face, adult women mostly get it in their chin and jaw-lines.

Another disturbing trend that has been observed is that acne in adults has a propensity to strike right before a big day – which indicates that adult acne is mostly stress related.

Apart from stress, several other factors of adult lifestyle are being held responsible for the mass-scale breakouts.

Contraceptive pills, consumption of food with high glycemic index, rosacea, alcohol, sun screens and anti-ageing creams seem to play a major role in acne outbursts.

Also in the list are hair products such as conditioners and hair coloring chemicals, which affect the facial skin when in contact.

Equally to be blamed are those cleansing strips that you use to peel off layers of make-up after a party. While these removers take off the make-up pigments effectively, these also remove the skin’s natural oils which stimulate a hyper secretion of sebum in the oil glands.

Wear organic make-up and request your partner to wear condoms to spare you that contraceptive pill. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, and avoid dumping loads of sugar and oil in your system.

Alcohol is best avoided, but if you must have it, do get it diluted with tonic or mineral water. Use oil-free sunscreens and ammonia-free hair products.

While using hair products, ensure that they don’t run down to your face. Use a cotton cover on your face to avoid this.

Need guidance on how to get rid of your acne? Check out my Acne No More program

The post Is Adult Acne That Easy To Eliminate? first appeared on Mike Walden's Acne Blog.

The post Is Adult Acne That Easy To Eliminate? appeared first on Mike Walden's Acne Blog.