Acne is not just a teenage problem. In fact , many adult women even in their 40ties, suffer from adult acne. The difference between teen acne and adult acne is that teenage acne appears on the T-zone and the center of the face like nose and cheeks while adult acne appears usually around the mouth, on the neck and around the hairline.
What causes adult acne and how to prevent it
The causes of teen acne and adult acne are similar. Usually what triggers the appearance of acne are your genes and the hormones. What usually causes acne and breakouts are overproduction of male hormones, and also imbalance between the male and female hormones (androgens and estrogens). Adult acne is more common in women than men.
Getting rid of adult acne or teen acne is not an easy job. But there are several things that can help you to control adult acne and breakouts. For instance, having a healthy diet and minimizing the intake of dairy products, sugary snacks and drinks might help you to avoid breakouts and adult acne.
Stress is another thing that can trigger breakouts, so you should try to control the stress. Try to relax more often with simple things that make you happy like a good book or your playing with your pet, or try some anti-stress techniques such as yoga, exercise or meditation. Here are a few homemade treatments and remedies for adult acne that will help you get rid or at least reduce the breakouts and acne.
Homemade face scrub for adult acne with baking soda
This is a very simple homemade face scrub for adult acne made with baking soda. Baking soda is a mild scrub which won’t irritate your skin even more and honey has anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and antibacterial properties so it’s great for your skin. You will need: 1 tablespoon of baking soda and 2 teaspoons of honey (raw or manuka honey will work the best). In a small bowl combine the honey and baking soda and apply it on your face. Massage your skin with circular motion for 1-2 minutes and rinse with lukewarm water. Your skin will be soft and glowing.
Homemade face mask for adult acne with aloe vera and tea tree oil
This is a simple homemade face mask for adult acne that is made from only two ingredients. If you find that tea tree oil is too harsh for you, skip this mask. You will need: 1 tablespoon of aloe vera gel and 3-5 drops of tea tree oil (use pure, undiluted tea tree oil). Mix the aloe vera gel with the tea tree oil and apply it on your face. Leave it for 15 minutes and rinse with lukewarm water. If your skin isn’t too sensitive, you can also apply tea tree oil directly onto the acne spots by dabbing it directly onto the pimples with a cotton swab.
Homemade face mask for adult acne with green clay
There are many types of clay that we can choose from, but the best type of clay for oily and acne prone skin is green clay, (also called French green clay) because it draws the impurities from the skin very well. For this homemade green clay face mask for adult acne you will need: 1 tablespoon of French green clay powder, 1 teaspoon of honey and a few drops of lemon juice. In a bowl mix the French green clay powder with the honey and add a few drops of lemon juice to get a thick paste. If you have sensitive skin, you can add a few drops of water to get the consistency that you like. Apply the DIY green clay mask on your face and leave it for 15-20 minutes. Rinse with lukewarm water. Because it contains honey, the mask won’t dry and pull your skin, so it is great for every skin type.
Homemade spot treatment for adult acne with aspirin
Aspirin contains acetylsalicylic acid which is similar to salicylic acid. Prolonged use of this homemade spot treatment for adult acne is not recommended because it can dry out your skin and also some of the Aspirin might get absorbed through your skin and go into your bloodstream.
Important! Avoid this treatment if you have sensitive skin, if you’re allergic to Aspirin or if you have some health problem and you shouldn’t take Aspirin because of it.
You will need: 1 Aspirin tablet and a few drops of water and you can use few drops of honey, tea tree oil or aloe vera gel. You can crush the Aspirin, but it is not necessary, just add a few drops of water to the tablet (if you use coated tablets, you’ll have to crush it) and leave it for a minute or two, the Aspirin will get softer. At this point you can add any other ingredient of your choice or you can use just Aspirin and water. With a cotton swab, apply the paste on your pimples, leave it for 15 minutes and rinse.
Topical acne treatment options for adult acne
Topical acne treatment options for adult acne are in a form of a cream, lotion or gel and usually contain salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. The concentration of salicylic acid should not exceed 2%, and the concentration of benzoyl peroxide shouldn’t exceed 5% or 10%, depending on the sensitivity of the skin. But keep in mind that your skin is getting more sensitive as you get older so even these numbers can be a bit too high for you.
If your adult acne is cystic and severe, and you have it for couple of weeks, consult your dermatologist, he’ll give you a adequate treatment that will hopefully clear your skin.
I’ve heard that Baking soda acts as exfoliate and helps to treat blackheads. Thanks for sharing the tips. 🙂
Acne not only affects teenagers but also affects adults as well. While you may not be able to completely eliminate acne, there are many methods on how to stop acne and prevent it from completely taking over your skin and robbing you of your self-esteem.