Adulting is hard, especially when it concerns our skin. In fact, it may come as a shock to some that our breakouts tend to increase with age. As depressing as that info is, it’s not surprising?considering the stressful state of our world, compounded with a few other factors, like side effects to medication and undiagnosed medical conditions. Even if you didn’t suffer from acne as a teen (lucky you!), the cold hard truth is you can still experience it as an adult.
Ahead, Dr. Melissa Kanchanapoomi Levin, board-certified NYC dermatologist and clinical attending at NYU Langone and Mount Sinai Hospital, breaks down the science behind this shift and how to treat it post-adolescence.
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Changing hormonal levels. Certain hormones, particularly testosterone, trigger increased oil production promoting acne. The surge in those hormones could be from your period, pre-menopause, menopause, starting or stopping birth control, a hormonal IUD (intrauterine devices), or eating hormone-enhanced foods (i.e. non-organic meat and dairy). “Women are more likely to deal with adult acne than men due to hormonal changes,” Levin says.
Stress. Turn on the news for two seconds and you’ll understand why. “Unfortunately, chronic stress elevates not only cortisol levels but also androgens. Stimulating androgen production causes an increase in sebum, which clogs pores and increases the overgrowth of...