How To Cope When Acne Won’t Leave You… Even As An Adult

Remember when you were a kid, and you couldn’t wait to grow up? That’s because you thought adulthood was when you finally got to be in control. You thought you could binge eat chocolate. They didn’t tell you it would go straight to your hips, and hang out there stubbornly refusing to move. You had also imagined that you’d have your life sorted by now, so you wouldn’t be forced into surviving on chips by the end of the month. That was a joke. Not funny, but a cruel joke. You would have also imagined that acne, the bane of being a teenager, would have now found greener pastures, and would skip away happily to other people’s faces. Turns out, even this didn’t happen.

You were okay for a while there. The acne, not so bad. At one point, you even thought the worst was over. But you are in your 20s, and somehow they’ve made a comeback, and you are stumped. Wasn’t acne supposed to be an adolescence thing? 

Say hello to adult acne. Yes, that’s a thing. We spoke to Dr. Geetika Mittal Gupta, Founder and Medical Director – ISAAC (International Skin & Anti Aging Centre) about the causes of adult acne, and what you can do about it. Trust me, not all is lost. 

Out of whack hormones

“Fluctuating hormonal levels may cause your skin to act up,” says Dr. Geetika. This is probably what caused it during your teenage years, and this is still the reason. Well, it does get points for consistency. A trip to the Endocrinologist is in the offing. This may sound big but your hormones are doing their thing even during your period so this could turn out of be nothing. 

Damsel In Stress

Deadlines, boyfriend problems, home issues… all of these things cause stress, and could be the reason you are breaking out. Yoga and meditation is the answer. Breathing exercises increase oxygen intake and could also help.  Maybe take your yoga outdoors. Pose and breathe.  

Gland You Came

If everything else is in order, your thyroid may be causing adult acne. Get your tests done, and you may discover the root cause. Not what you wanted, but at least you know. ‘In this case, it is best to treat the Thyroid first,’ says Dr. Geetika. This overactive gland could be wreaking havoc in many other ways, so just getting this sorted will give you peace of mind. 

Makeup Breakup

You may be doing your skin a great disservice, experimenting with all those makeup products and beauty products. A particular product may not be working for you or may be too harsh for your skin. This may cause a breakout. Also, you know that old adage about not sleeping with your makeup on? Still holds true. 

Turn Inwards

While introspection is great, that’s probably not the solution. Take a closer look at what you are putting into your system. ‘Medication may be a cause of adult acne too,’ says Dr. Geetika. A sweet tooth can also play nasty with your skin. Flush out toxins with lots of water; it’s the easiest hack.