Why am I getting acne even as a grown adult?

[Sugarkane]

I'm 24 but still have bad skin. Why does this happen even though I'm not in my teens anymore? Taking the pill helps, but only masks the symptoms. If I go off it, my skin completely breaks out again. Its still bad and my back gets covered in it. I absolutely hate it.

[tigressA]

It's common to still have acne at your age. There are some people who have acne well into their 50s.

 

Do you know your skin type (dry, combo, oily)? What skin-care products, if any, do you use? What's your diet like? There has been an increasing amount of evidence strongly linking one's diet to overall skin health.

[Wendysong]

agreed, it doesn't matter your age. I still get it from time to time, BREAKOUTS! My skin is pretty oily. I wash my face every single morning and night and it happens. Just depends on your skin type. I'm in my 30's!

[coffeeaddict]

You might try cutting out lactose/dairy products, dairy can cause acne in some people. Coffee and caffeine products can also cause acne, and last but not least a diet high in sugar and white flour can aggravate acne. But people are different, there are people who can chain guzzle coffee and milk and pepsi yet have perfect skin. These are some things you could try before resorting to the more drastic treatments like "accutane."

[sally4sara]

Things to avoid that might sound like common sense yet people still need to be told:

 

Drink lots of water.

Scrubbing will only make it worse so be gentle.

Shower after physical activity and put on clean clothes instead of what you wore to the gym.

Do not wear the same bra multiple days in a row; if you don't have enough for every day of the week, wash them more often.

If you have long hair and use product in it, keep it off your bare back.

Change your pillowcases and sheets twice a week.

Use scent and color free detergent. Try Dreft.

Stop spraying perfume on your skin; put it on the exterior of your clothing instead.

Don't wear the same sleep clothes to bed multiple times without washing them between uses.

Wash your bathrobe.

Use a fresh towel after a shower. Don't use the one you've left in the bathroom for guests to wipe their hands on.

Wash all exercise attire in warm/hot wash setting. Or wash them by hand in antibacterial soap with two heavy rinses after washing. Try to get ones that are natural fiber and dye free rather than synthetic and dyed.

Take up swimming.

If you have access to a sauna, use it.

[Dorie]

There is indeed a strong link between diet, one's digestive health, and the skin. Consider doing a cleanse. You may see a difference.

[gaius]

Stress can have a lot to do with acne as well. Meditating or finding a way to relieve stress that works for you can do wonders.

[wny]

I have cousins that had bad acne on their backs and faces until their late 20s. It's usually inherited and works itself out, but you can help things from getting out of hand with some of the other advice here, but most importantly:

 

1) Don't sit around in sweaty clothes, especially after exercise. Never re-wear dirty clothes ever. Do not use the awful over the counter soaps like Dial, Zest, etc. They are way too drying, and don't ever wash your face with them. I like Aveeno facial cleanser (CVS has a more affordable knockoff), or one of the other non-drying face cleansers you'll see in the beauty section. For soap, I stick with moisturizing soaps or beauty bars (and I'm a man). I find soaps that strip away all skin oils open the door to more clogged pores, not less. I'd rather have a feminine soap than a tragic adventure with Irish Spring. You know you are a confident guy when you can buy soap at Crabtree & Evelyn and admit it's for yourself!

 

2) After teenage years, be careful with the anti-acne scrubs and cleansers. They can make problems worse in 20-somethings. If a doctor advises otherwise, listen to him/her of course.

 

3) Some people are allergic to detergents/fabric softeners, especially if your washer does not do a good job of rinsing soaps out of your clothes. I like lower suds detergents like Gain, which also have a high rating and are affordable. Tide can be a suds overload in some washers. You can try the non-perfumed versions and see if it helps. Some people simply can't deal with fabric softener at all either.

 

4) The good news is, by 30, most people seem to clear up.

[elizabeth26]

I'm in the same boat. With my skin type it will always be a problem. I have oily but fair skin. The acne I get is not terrible, but when I get them they are ugly. To get rid of blackheads and the beginnings of clogged pores I am purchasing a hq+ chemical peel, my friend had amazing results and I think it will really work for me, we have similar skin types. If you have similar problems to mine, it could work for you too.