Acne is often association with teens and puberty but that isn’t always the case.  More and more adults are starting to suffer from adult acne for many reasons, the main one being stress.  In today’s society, people are worried about financial security and that can be very stressful.  Stress leads to changes in our hormones which can lead to increased levels of oils being produced in our skin.  The sebaceous glands that produce our oils become very sensitive to stress hormones, also known as Androgrens, that react by producing more oil.

Excess oil on the skin results in clogged pores and a build up of dirt and debris in our pores.  Clogged pores results in blackheads and acne.

Adult acne breakouts can happen on the face, neck, back and scalp, literally anywhere that sebaceous glands produce oils.  It has been reported that almost 45 million adults suffer from some form of acne.  Men are especially prone to back acne due to overactive glands and excessive sweat; women are more prone to facial acne and especially during monthly hormonal changes.

One of the key factors in preventing adult acne is to keep skin clean and pores oil free.  The best way to do this is by performing a daily skin care regimen using a cleanser, a toner and a non-clogging moisturizer morning and night using products that are designed for acne prone skin.  It is recommended that an exfoliation product be used periodically in between daily skin care regimens in order to remove dead skin cells that can also trap oils in pores resulting in acne.  Keeping skin clean and pores unclogged proves to be your best defence in preventing acne.

During the night hours our skin is more relaxed and our sebaceous glands aren’t working as hard, this is a good time to apply a moisturizer or medicated cream that will work while you’re sleeping.  During the day our sebaceous glands are working full time and environmental elements are constantly being absorbed into our skin, applying a protective moisturizer in the morning can help protect the skin from absorbing debris into the pores.   However, debris and excess oils will have a way of building up in the pores throughout the day so it is essential to remove dirt, debris, make up and excess oils before going to bed at night.  Many dermatologists even recommend changing pillow cases and bedding on a regular basis so that you are not putting your freshly cleaned skin on a soiled pillowcase defeating the purpose of a cleansing regimen.

There are many professional skincare products on the market that are designed for acne prone skin and many contain the ingredient salicylic acid.  Salicylic acid is the leading acne care ingredient and prevents acne from forming by killing bacteria and removing excess oils.  Salicylic acid can leave skin feeling very clean but also dry, applying a moisturizer is important to maintain the skins overall health.