Help! I'm 30 and Still Getting Acne

Skin conditions like acne are very common in developing teens, but millions of adults still struggle with the effects of the blemishes associated with this problem. Let’s look at why and what we can do to help.

Your skin goes through a lot of changes as you mature, and factors like lifestyle habits, diet, hormonal changes, and environment can affect its overall health. This can lead to a number of skin conditions, ranging from changes in your skin’s firmness and elasticity to wrinkles or different types of skin cancer.

Something most people don’t think about as they get older is dealing with acne, but it’s more common than you may realize. More than 25% of adult women and 12% of adult men struggle with acne as late as their 40s.

Residents of the Denver, Colorado, Chicago, Illinois, San Diego, California, or Tampa, Florida, area can find help for their acne or other skin problems with our team at Ice Cave Body Sculpting.

If you’re in your 30s or older and still getting acne, let’s look at the common causes of this skin problem, why you’re still dealing with it, and what can be done to prevent and treat it.

Common causes of acne

Your skin may look like a solid mass that protects your body from external issues, but at closer examination, you’ll find it’s composed of several layers that hold sweat glands, hair follicles, and pores that allow your skin to regulate your body temperature and keep your skin smooth.

Acne (or acne vulgaris) is one of the most common skin conditions, and it results from blockages in your pores. This problem comes in several forms, including fungal, cystic, hormonal, and nodular acne, and is caused by your pores being filled with sebum (oil produced by your skin), bacteria, and dead skin cells.

Other common factors also contribute to acne, such as using personal care products with too much oil and grease, cortisol created by stress, medication side effects, picking at pimples, air pollution, and high humidity.

Why adults get acne

Adult acne is frequently connected with hormonal changes. Hormones play a vital role in your development into adulthood, but they continue to be important after that process is finished.

Your hormone levels can change for many reasons, like your menstrual cycle, changing or stopping birth control pills, getting pregnant, giving birth, nursing, the stages of menopause for women, and changes in testosterone (higher levels or andropause) in men.

None of these factors mean you’ll be stuck with acne for life, simply that your teen years aren’t the end of that experience. And regardless of the reasons you’re dealing with this skin problem after adolescence, there are still ways to manage it.

Methods of prevention and treatment

There are several ways to help reduce flare-ups of acne and treat them when they happen.

Prevention

Avoiding outbreaks of adult acne is all about reducing exposure to the things that trigger them, which means lifestyle and dietary changes (reducing stress, getting better sleep, eating healthier) and using skin creams and other products that don’t clog your pores. Drinking plenty of water and using moisturizer helps to avoid skin dryness that also contributes to acne.

Treatment

Treatment for your acne depends on the severity and type and includes topical creams (retinol, topical antibiotics), benzoyl peroxide, and steroid injections. Other methods are also available, like changes in contraceptive medications, daily cleansings, and laser skin treatments.

Adult acne is a reality for millions in their 30s and older, but it doesn’t have to stay that way. Make an appointment with the team at Ice Cave Body Sculpting today to get clearer, smoother skin. Call our location closest to you or book a visit online today.