Your Cloth Face Mask Is Causing Maskne
If you’ve noticed more breakouts on your chin, jawline, and cheeks as a result of wearing your cloth face mask, you’re not just seeing things. Turns out, all that sweat, oil, bacteria, and humidity trapped under your face covering can create the perfect breeding ground for breakouts.
The zit fix:
The CDC recommends wearing face masks, so consider switching yours to one that’s made with a breathable fabric and stock up on a few so you always have a clean one ready to go. Oh, and if you’re not washing your face twice a day and your mask after each use, you’re doing it wrong. Remember all that oil and bacteria trapped between your face and your mask? Yeah, you don’t want to reintroduce that if you’re trying to avoid breakouts. And lastly, skip makeup. Since you’re covering your face, you won’t need to wear a heavy foundation underneath it that could cause clogged pores anyway.
How To Treat Hormonal Acne Naturally
In some cases, plant-based treatment options may be used to clear up mild hormonal acne.
Natural treatments are usually free of the side effects sometimes caused by prescription options. But they may not be as effective. Research on natural options is lacking, and at this time nothing has been proven to produce results. Talk with your doctor about potential risks and to ensure the treatment wont interact with any medications youre taking.
Traditional Treatments For Hormonal Acne
Unless your hormonal acne is mild, over-the-counter products usually arent successful.
This is because hormonal acne typically takes the form of cystic bumps. These bumps form deep under the skin, out of reach of most topical medications.
Oral medications can work from the inside out to balance your hormones and clear up the skin. Common options include oral contraceptives and anti-androgen drugs.
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Adult Acne: Understanding Underlying Causes And Banishing Breakouts
- , Contributor
“Im not a teenager anymore, why do I still have acne?!” This is a question we hear from patients on a daily basis. The truth is, it is quite common to see acne persist into adulthood. Although acne is commonly thought of as a problem of adolescence, it can occur in people of all ages.
Adult acne has many similarities to adolescent acne with regard to both causes and treatments. But there are some unique qualities to adult acne as well.
Reasons Youre Breaking Out In Acne In Your 40s
It is nice when you finally outgrow the teenage awkward stage. Oily hair, greasy skin, and acne are often a part of this era. No matter what products are used, acne often persists until the teens are over with. While improvements are usually seen during the early 20s, many people are surprised to see that pimples still make an appearance throughout their lifetime. Teenage acne is usually caused by hormones produced by growing bodies. When you move on past that, however, the reasons may vary. Each era of your life brings new events. Once you reach your 40s, acne takes on a whole new meaning.
Our bodies go through many hormone fluctuations throughout our lives. Women, especially, deal with hormone changes on a regular basis. Pregnancy, periods, and menopause all bring about new symptoms related to hormones. Adults have more stressful issues to deal with than most young people. In your 40s, you are likely to have increased bills due to things like home ownership and kids. This can all take its toll on your body. Adult acne may be only one of your symptoms. We also tend to refrain from proper self-care when we are busy taking care of a family. This can lead to less exercise and a poor diet. A vitamin deficiency can contribute to acne.
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What’s The Best Way To Prevent Acne
First, avoid touching your face. Touching your face can increase oiliness, irritate your skin, and encourage the growth of bacteria. Develop a hands-off policy.
Second, keep oily hair off your skin. And look for oil-free hair products. Oily hair care products can get on your face and clog pores.
Third, be gentle with your skin. Use your fingertips to wash your face with a non-abrasive cleanser. Use mild skin care products.
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Can I Treat Acne At Home
Hormonal acne often doesnt respond well to over-the-counter treatment. The reason why is that hormonal acne often starts as a deep cyst underneath the skin. Topical medications such as salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide can only do so much. Most women find that oral medications are the best bet for clearing up perimenopausal acne.
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Which Hormone Causes Acne In Pregnancy
Many women experience acne during pregnancy. Its most common during the first and second trimesters. An increase in hormones called androgens can cause the glands in your skin to grow and produce more sebum an oily, waxy substance. This oil can clog pores and lead to bacteria, inflammation, and breakouts.
What Questions Should I Ask My Healthcare Provider
- How severe is my acne?
- What lifestyle changes should I make to prevent hormonal acne from forming?
- What are the side effects to my acne treatment?
- Can I take this treatment if I become pregnant?
A note from Cleveland Clinic
It can be frustrating to see breakouts on your skin as an adult, considering they are most frequent among adolescents. Talk with your healthcare provider if your acne is persistent and they will be able to offer advanced treatment options to eliminate pesky pimples.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 09/10/2021.
References
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What Causes Hormonal Acne
Hormonal acne is acne that occurs when a persons hormone level fluctuates. Fluctuations of estrogen, progesterone and testosterone can cause zits and pimples to pop up. Typically, these fluctuations happen mostly during menstruation cycles, pregnancy and menopause.
During these times of increased hormones, the body produces more sebum, an oily, waxy substance. This then leads to inflammation, changes in skin cell activity and colonization of bacteria in hair follicles. With this combination, acne starts to appear. Medications, antibiotics, specific foods, depression, anxiety, stress and other mentally triggering elements can cause hormonal acne as well.
When To Visit The Derm
There isnt one particular pimple that pops up to tell you to schedule a dermatology appointment. If home remedies or OTC meds dont do the trick, a dermatologist can help sort out what route to try next.
Deep, persistent cysts particularly around the inner thighs, armpits, or groin area could be a sign of a different condition called hidradenitis suppurativa.
Redness in the form of small bumps could also actually be rosacea. A dermatologist can help to treat your skins particular grievances so you dont have to play the guessing game with home remedies.
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What To Do When Your Skin Goes Bonkers In Your 40s
I was inspired by a friend recently to write this blog. While we were celebrating her 45th birthday, she pulled me aside from the party to ask my why her skin seemed to be going crazy with dryness, acne, and wrinkles simultaneously. At 47 myself, I feel her pain. And I can attest that many of the women I see in the office everyday have the same issues.
During our 40s, the body is undergoing profound changes, and the skin is no exception. It is a time where dryness is frequently seen alongside acne on the chin. How unfair is that? Also, the signs of aging including fine lines and wrinkles, discoloration and laxity are emerging. Fortunately, there are many ways to address these changes to maintain your best complexion possible.
Dry Skin
Hormone levels start to drop long before entering menopause. During peri-menopause, as estrogen levels fall, many women first notice their skin is much drier than before. This is a common finding, but if not addressed, can lead to premature fine wrinkling around the eyes and mouth. A good way to add hydration to the skin without excessive greasiness is to use a moisturizer with hyaluronic acid, which has the consistency a gel. Hyaluronic acid helps to maintain skin moisture levels as it actively attracts water.
Dull Skin
Acne
Wrinkles
Dr. Elizabeth Tanzi is Founder and Director of Capital Laser & Skin Care and Clinical Professor of Dermatology at the George Washington Medical Center.
What Are The Characteristics Of Hormonal Acne
During puberty, hormonal acne often appears in the T-zone. This includes your forehead, nose, and chin.
Hormonal adult acne typically forms on the lower part of your face. This includes the bottom of your cheeks and around your jawline.
For some people, hormonal acne takes the form of blackheads, whiteheads, and small pimples that come to a head, or cysts.
Cysts form deep under the skin and dont come to a head on the surface. These bumps are often tender to the touch.
Hormonal acne may be caused by influxes of hormones from:
- menstruation
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What Is Hormonal Acne Anyway
First, its important to understand the difference between hormonal acne and good old-fashioned pimples. Hormonal acne is intrinsically linked to your hormones, resulting in cyclical breakouts that usually coincide with a persons menstrual cycle, Joshua Zeichner, M.D.2, board-certified dermatologist and director of cosmetic and clinical research at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, tells SELF. It can also match up with other hormonal shifts in your life, meaning your menopausal acne or postpartum pimples could be hormonal.
One important thing to note: Hormonal acne is technically not a medical term, board-certified dermatologist Ife J. Rodney, M.D.3, founding director of Eternal Dermatology + Aesthetics and professor of dermatology at Howard University and George Washington University, tells SELF. However, when a person tends to get very specific types of breakouts around the time of their period or when their body is experiencing vast hormonal shifts for other reasons , dermatologists generally describe it as hormonal acne.
Acne In Your 40s & 50s When It Suddenly Appears
Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes
Its not fair, when youve never had a pimple in your life, or certainly not since your teenage years, to be suddenly inflicted with breakouts and Acne in your 40s or 50s. Acne during this stage of your life is not often talked about so lets help you work out what you can do
Forgive me, as this concern is complex and as I want you to understand everything I have to say. I also cant give you a book so I have included a lot of links extra reading when the insomnia of menopause is keeping you up beats doing the ironing!
Most adult acne affects your chin and jawline, traditionally hormonal areas. It can actually affect anywhere on your face though, or might even be on your chest, back and shoulders anywhere really. Unfortunately, there are no quick fixes, no immediate cures or magic pills. It needs to be controlled and managed carefully and individually. If you want to find out more about the general causes and treatment of your acne, have a read of the Acne article. Acne can also be a manifestation of Rosacea, which will be treated slightly differently. If you have reddened cheeks or chin that may be bumpy and/or pimply and your skin is quite reactive, discover how to reverse your Rosacea, whatever the stage, by also following the Rosacea link.
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Is Menopausal Acne A Form Of Hormonal Acne
Many women begin to experience menopause in their 40s and 50s. This causes a natural decline in your reproductive hormones, resulting in an end to menstruation.
Some women experience acne during menopause. This is likely due to a drop in estrogen levels or an increase in androgen hormones like testosterone.
You may still experience menopausal acne even if youre using hormone replacement therapies to ease your menopause symptoms. This is because some HRTs use an influx of the hormone progestin to replace the estrogen and progesterone your body loses. Introducing this hormone to your system can cause your skin to break out.
In most cases, prescription medication can clear up menopausal acne. Some women may find success using natural treatment methods. Talk to your doctor about which options may be right for you.
Your Smoking Habit Is Damaging Your Complexion
Smoking is ruining you in more ways than one, my friend. Every time you light up a cigarette, you decrease the amount of oxygen that goes to the skin on your face, Dr. Downie explains. Smoking not only predisposes you to cancer, but it also causes the breakdown of collagen and elastin that leads to wrinkles and increased pore size. The carcinogens in the smoke also irritate your skin and dry it out, triggering it to produce more oil and, possibly, more breakouts.
The zit fix:
Dont smoke. Its as simple as that. Youll live longer and have clearer skin. Boom.
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Hormonal Acne: What It Is And Why It Happens
Acne does not just affect young teens going through puberty, but instead, also affects adults of any age. About 40% to 50% of the adult population ranging from 20 to 40 years old have some sort of acne on their body.
While any gender can have hormonal acne in their adult life, it typically affects women more than men. Studies have shown that about 50% of the women population ages 20-29 deal with acne, and 25% of women ages 40-49 also deal with it. Why do women experience more hormonal acne than men?
Women tend to experience more hormone fluctuations compared to men due to puberty, menstruation cycles, pregnancy and menopause. If you suffer from hormonal acne, check out this guide on what it is and why it happens.
How To Treat Adult Acne
Okay, enough of the bad news. How do we actually get rid of adult acne? Thankfully, all doctors interviewed say there’s hope and point to a range of ingredients that can help target acne and breakouts.
Dr. Gross says to look for exfoliating, pore-clearing OTC products. “To treat acne most effectivelyyet gentlystart out by using over-the-counter anti-acne remedies that contain either exfoliating, pore-clearing salicylic acid or bacteria-banishing benzoyl peroxide, such as my All-Over Blemish Solution . I recommend looking for products that contain bisabolol, an active ingredient derived from chamomile extract that helps soothe redness and reduce inflammation.”
Key Ingredients
Benzoyl peroxide is an organic acid in the peroxide family that has been used to treat acne because of its keratolytic, moderate comedolytic, and antibacterial properties, which include the reduction of P. acnes and Staph. aureus on the skin.
“Sulfur is also a powerful ingredient that controls the oil that feeds the bacteria and can be found in Clarifying Colloidal Sulfur Mask ,” Dr. Gross says.
Key Ingredients
Sulfur is a natural element that is an essential component for all living cells. Sulfur-based products tend to work best for mild-to-moderate acne, primarily whiteheads, blackheads, and papules.
Key Ingredients
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Acne In Your 20s 30s And 40s
Hormonal changes can continue throughout your 20s and 30s as your body adjusts to adulthood.
In females, polycystic ovary syndrome or the menstrual cycle are often the cause, while males can look to the high testosterone levels of youth. At any age, pregnancy and breastfeeding can also cause adult acne.
In the 40s and 50s, females may experience very different hormonal fluctuations that are related to menopause, and the years leading up to it, known as perimenopause.
Males also experience a hormonal shift as they grow older, known as andropause. To treat hormonal causes of adult acne, speak to a doctor about possible tests and age-specific recommendations.
Although the precise treatments may be different, a nutritious diet, exercise, and a dedicated skin care routine may help.
My Job Is Stressful Is That A Factor In Acne
Stress is not considered a main cause of acne. More often, your acne may increase your stress levels. Effective acne treatment may actually help reduce your stress.
However, in some people, stress can worsen acne. If you think stress triggers outbreaks, simple techniques, such as deep breathing exercises or even meditation, can ease stress.
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How Can I Reduce My Risk Of Hormonal Acne
Though hormonal acne can be unavoidable, there are several things you can do to reduce your risk of getting breakouts:
- Make lifestyle changes to reduce stress, get better sleep and eat a healthy diet.
- Use skincare products that wont clog pores.
- Discuss treatment options with your healthcare provider for persistent acne.
Sorting Through The Myths
Acne is the most common skin condition in the United States, affecting 40-50 million people, and its also the least understood. If you do an internet search for treating acne, you get over 32,000,000 search results in under two seconds. Rather than wading through an internet search, here are a few facts about acne:
For years, many people believed that what you ate contributed to acne, especially chocolate. The fact is that theres very little evidence that ties diet to acne, which doesnt mean to say that what you eat doesnt influence or worsen your acne, but theres scant research to back up that claim.
As well, your hygiene doesnt appear to play a role in acne. Yes, you should keep your skin free from dirt, but trying to scrub away acne may actually make it worse by irritating the condition. The bottom line is that acne may be aggravated by excessive dirt, grime, and sweat, but hygiene doesnt cause acne in the first place.
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