Most of us view pimples and blackheads as a challenging side effect of puberty that dissipates shortly after high school graduation. But for many adults, blemishes persist well into their 20s, 30s and 40s. Adult acne is not only embarrassing, particularly for working men and women, but also discomforting.

While nearly everyone strives for clear skin in adulthood, few of us achieve a blemish-free complexion. The prevalence of adult acne has risen over the past few decades, led by shifting hormones, increased stress, pollution and poor habits. Consider the following reasons you might suffer from adult acne and how you can fight it:

Menstrual Cycle

Many women are familiar with a few zits a few days before Aunt Flo visits, but less understand the reason why. As your body prepares for its monthly menstruation, estrogen levels decrease and progesterone rises. An increase in progesterone boosts oil and sebum production, which often clogs pores, cultivates bacteria and triggers inflammation. Per a study from the Archives of Dermatology, 63 percent of women experience skin flare-ups seven to 10 days before their period arrives. While hormonal acne is the result of internal fluctuations, women can still manage menstrual blemishes by taking extra care of their skin during their time of the month. In addition, birth control pills can help regulate hormonal shifts and fight the unwanted side effects of menstruation, which include acne, a heavy flow and debilitating cramps.

Stress and Anxiety

Aside from causing mental exhaustion and physical fatigue, stress is a clear complexion killer. When stressed, the adrenal gland produces more cortisol to help your body cope. Unfortunately, cortisol comes with traces of testosterone which boosts oil production. Again, the excess oil on your skin is a driving factor behind unsolicited acne. Fortunately, stress can be curbed with regular exercise, healthy nutrition, better work-life balance and meditation.

Pollution

If you live in a big city, your skin likely faces its fair share of pollutants each day. While there’s little you can to personally to completely evade high levels of pollution – aside from moving to the country – washing and toning your face regularly helps wipe away external impurities.

Poor Habits

We’ve discussed how damaging it is to skip your AM and PM face washing routine. In addition to proper cleansing and moisturization, use products specifically tailored for your skin type and circumstance. For instance, patients with particularly oily skin susceptible to breakouts can turn to non-comedogenic products that won’t clog pores. A visit with Dr. Busso gives you the intel on your skin you need to select the right skincare products, whether prescribed by a cosmetic dermatologist or purchased at your local drugstore.

Dr. Busso offers laser acne therapy to treat pimples without antibiotics or prescription medications. The Ellipse Laser Acne treatment delivers controlled pulses of light to reduce acne without damaging the surrounding skin tissue. The light is converted to heat, which safely damages the walls of the blood vessels to slow sebum production. Ellipse Laser Acne treatments are clinically proven to accelerate healing and curtail future flare-ups. *

Being an adult doesn’t eliminate acne altogether, but counteracting the factors that prompt skin imperfections can help. For a full skin diagnosis and to discuss acne treatment in Miami, call Dr. Busso’s office at 305-857-0144.