Truth is, breakouts rank as the top skin care concern among my clients. What they don't have in common however is their age. Believe it or not, breakouts don't disappear once you turn 20! Acne can pop up in your 30's, 40's and beyond. Why? The cause of breakouts changes with age. Luckily, no matter how old you are there are ways to prevent and treat breakouts.
How to Treat and Prevent Breakouts in Your 20's
This is the age where you can breathe a sigh of relief. Those excessive hormones from your teenage years should be balanced out by now so your breakouts will become less frequent. However, hormones do fluctuate before your period, causing your facial pores to overproduce oil, resulting in unnecessary breakouts.
Also, this may be a time when you're experimenting with birth control. Certain pills can impact your skin, either positively or negatively. Talk to your doctor if you begin taking birth control and notice more frequent breakouts, your doctor can easily help you to choose another option that will help clear up your skin.
To avoid breakouts in your 20's follow this advice! Always use a gentle antibacterial cleanser to prevent hormonal breakouts each month. Try one with salicylic acid, such as Dermalogica's Clearing Skin Wash, and lather up daily approximately three days before your period begins. Also, if you use any anti-aging products try not to overdo it. While it's great that you are mindful of preventing premature skin damage just use them sparingly. These products increase cellular turnover, which in younger skin, can actually cause acne since your skin is already functioning optimally. So, if you notice this happening simply ease off these products and reintroduce them slowly once the acne disappears.
Also, if you get cystic acne use a spot treatment targeted for this type of flare-up. Better yet, try eliminating dairy from your diet. Many of my clients have noticed a direct correlation between their dairy consumption and cystic breakouts.
No matter what your age, it's so important to remember not to switch up your skin care routine whenever a breakout strikes! Instead, focus on fighting acne the smart way. Just tweak your routine to focus more on the acne before (or during) breakouts. Choose your products wisely and apply them only to the area affected and in no time your skin will be clear again.
Stayed tuned for my expert tips on how to treat and prevent breakouts in your 30's!
