How to Manage Adult Acne: 7 Top Tips

I remember watching acne fade away in my early 20s and thinking, “Cool, all done with that teenage problem I guess.” But then from time to time, it would rear its ugly head again and prove me wrong. Turns out that acne isn’t the high school problem that so many of us thought it was – adult acne is more common than you might realize. But as your skin changes with age, your old remedies might not work anymore, so let’s talk about some top tips for managing adult acne.

Try a Retinoid

One of the common frustrations with adult acne is that as you get into your adult years, you want to shift your skin care priorities more toward aging prevention, but you’re still stuck on blocking blemishes. You’ll be glad to know that some skin care products, particularly retinoids, can do both.

A retinoid like a retinol serum is best known for reducing fine lines and wrinkles, but these products actually help to break down clogs in your pores too. They also help shed dead skin cells so those skin cells they don’t get stuck in your pores and lead to pimples.

Opt for Soothing Skin Care

Another issue to keep in mind with acne is that it often makes your skin more sensitive. Particularly if you tend to have a lot of redness in your skin along with your breakouts, incorporate anti-inflammatory products into your skin care routine. This can be fantastic for helping your skin look healthier and feel better, even when you’re mid-breakout.

Cleanser Consistency Matters

One of the most basic skin care tips for people with acne, as you’ve probably heard a million times before, is to wash your skin twice a day with cleanser. But if your acne is still persistent, you might not be using the best cleanser for your skin.

If you have acne and oily skin, a foaming cleanser may be better with you, while a creamy cleanser is better if your acne comes with dryness. Either way, don’t fall into the common misconception that for acne, the more extreme the cleanser, the better. Stick with a gentler cleanser, and ideally a specialized cleanser for acne.

Keep Sugar to a Minimum

Just about every food under the sun has been blamed for acne at some point – chocolate, fried food, dairy, and so on. It turns out that there’s truth to some of it, but the main culprit is sugar. Limit sugary desserts and sodas, only eating and drinking them in moderation. Meanwhile, a balanced diet with healthy whole foods can give you the nutrients to support healthier skin.

Be Cautious with Acne Products in Pregnancy and While Breastfeeding

If you’re expanding your family or if you’re breastfeeding, talk to your doctor or dermatologist. There are some common ingredients in over-the-counter acne products, like benzoyl peroxide and retinoids, that your doctor may advise you to avoid or use sparingly while you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.

Treat Your Entire Face, Not Just Acne Spots

There are some acne spot treatments that are designed to only be used on an active pimple or an area with active acne. But other than those, you should use your acne products on your full face. A lot of these products are proactive in battling pimples that are building up that you haven’t seen yet, so if you only put the products on areas where you see acne, you’re losing the preventative power that it has.

On top of that, products are most effective when they’re used consistently every day for six weeks or longer. If you’re only applying products to areas that are currently broken out, you’ll just be chasing breakouts around and no area will get the product consistently enough for it to work its best.

Know When It’s Time for Help

Acne is an incredibly common condition, so a lot of people think that means that it’s normal and doesn’t warrant a doctor’s help. But the truth is that dermatologists are there to help you with your skin’s health, and this includes acne. If you’ve been treating your acne with over-the-counter products for months with no improvement, or if your acne is severe enough that your pimples are leaving behind scars or pigmentation, it’s worth a visit to your dermatologist. Some acne simply needs prescription or medications to be manageable.

If you’re located close to Dallas, Texas, Dr. Amy Wolthoff, MD is a board-certified dermatologist who specializes in medical and cosmetic dermatology. She has extensive knowledge and experience in treating acne, plus a wide range of other skin care concerns. Check out Dr. Wolthoff at Intentional Dermatology and Health in Dallas.

Getting Your Adult Acne Under Control

You’re a busy person who’s balancing a career, a social life, your health and wellness, and maybe a family too – you simply have too much going on to worry about acne. With a few changes to your skin care routine thanks to the tips above, you may be able to get it under control so you can move on to bigger and better things.