08.20.2018

7 Things You Probably Don’t Know About Adult Acne

Yep, it’s true. And, as a matter of fact, it’s more common in women as adults.  The breakouts tend to be lower-face dominant and are often cysts (the worst- I dealt with cystic acne in my early 20s).

2-) Don’t use acne products made for teens.

“We’re not as oily as adults so don’t go for those super drying brands that worked for you as a teen,” explains Chiu. And not-so-fun fact: Chiu also explained that many people who had acne as a teen are often super hesitant to try new skincare products in general because of the emotional trauma they suffered from having acne.

3-) No, makeup does NOT make acne worse…most of the time.

Most makeup won’t give you acne or make your current acne worse, unless you’re an actor or someone who wears heavy, layered makeup for most of the day.  A lot of hi-definition makeup also contains talc, which is great for the camera but terrible for acne!

4-) Don’t over-wash your face.

Should you wash your face more often or with harsh scrubs? NO WAY.  According to Chiu, unless you’re an athlete, you don’t wash more than two times a day. Don’t over-strip your skin or you’ll end up producing more oil.

5-) Find a good moisturizer.

One of the biggest acne myths is that you should be using oil-free moisturizers only. False. You want to find a “really good” moisturizer, according to Chiu. Personally, when I had acne I found that using a really simple, hydrating moisturizer with good quality ingredients worked best.

6-) Nope, pizza and chocolate won’t make you break out.

Sure, foods that are high in sugar and dairy are known to be not so great for your skin but it’s a total rumor that pizza (i.e. greasy foods) or chocolate will cause acne. That said, if you feel like dairy or something else might be triggering your breakouts, Chiu recommends that you lay off the food for 2-4 weeks to see if it really is a trigger.

7-) Body acne is not always acne.

According to Chiu, butt acne (i.e. buttne) is usually folliculitis, a common skin condition where hair follicles become inflamed, and not actually acne. That said, Chiu also noted that body acne is typically less about hormones and more about exercise (since sweat clogs your pores). It’s important to use a good acne body cleanser (typically with 2% salicylic acid) in the shower, as soon as you can after working out.

A few of my favorite La Roche-Posay products for acne and oily products:

La Roche-Posay Effalcar Clarifying Oil-Free Cleansing Towelettes: I love, love, love these! You can also keep them in your gym bag so you can wipe some of the sweat off your arms and chest after working out (i.e. it cleanses away oil and pore clogging impurities, which are contributing factors to acne-prone skin.)

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel Cleanser for Oily Skin: I love a gel cleanser and this version (which actually foams!), gently cleanses impurities while respecting the skin’s natural pH balance.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Micellar Water Ultra: And you guys also know I’m a big micellar water fan. It’s especially great for when you’re on-the-go and this version, in particular, encapsulates impurities like dirt, oil and makeup and naturally lift them away without any harsh rubbing. It’s mild enough for sensitive skin and contact-lens wearers!

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Dual Action Acne Treatment: This beauty-award winning product uses 5.5% micronized benzoyl peroxide to fight acne deep in the skin, and 0.4% micro-exfoliating LHA to smooth the skin’s texture.

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Thank you to La Roche-Posay for sponsoring this post