Treating Adult Acne
There’s no shortage of confusion when it comes to acne, but we’re here to help. Let’s look at why most people break out – and how to avoid the most common acne triggers, or at least learn to manage them.
Adult vs. Teen Acne
Acne is no fun at any age but knowing how it behaves in your adult years vs. your teen years can help you stay in the clear.
Causes of Adult Acne
Chronic stress
Acne is one of the first signs of a chronically-stressful lifestyle. Adult acne is particularly common among women, who are twice as likely to suffer from severe stress and anxiety as men. Chronic stress triggers an increase in stress-related hormones, which send skin’s sebaceous (oil) glands into overdrive and slow down cell turnover, creating the perfect conditions for acne breakouts. Stressed skin also tends to look tired, uneven, and prematurely-aged.
Hormonal fluctuations
Stress plays a significant role when it comes to hormones. When the body produces excessive amounts of hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline, adrenal glands produce less progesterone – which is a natural anti-anxiety substance. This hormonal shift can lead to an internal imbalance, which may lead to breakouts.
Polluted environment
UV rays and seasonal changes can stimulate cell production, sebum and blood flow, exacerbating acne symptoms. This is especially bad for people who work in areas with high heat and humidity, like kitchens and industrial settings. Help protect your skin from UV light by applying an SPF moisturizer every day.
Lifestyle habits
Smoking, under-cleansing, wearing tight or itchy clothing, taking certain medica¬tions – all these lifestyle habits can affect the severity of breakouts. Certain make-up, hair and skin care products can also contain pore-clogging ingredients that can trigger or worsen acne.
Sugar consumption
Eating lots of sugary, refined foods could contribute to breakouts by triggering more oil production in the skin. Stick to whole grains, vegetables and antiox¬idant-rich foods to help encourage clear skin.
To effectively clear adult breakouts and treat visible signs of premature skin aging, dermalogica is introducing, NEW Active Clearing!
Active Clearing brings powerful ingredient technology to the forefront, leaving skin clearer and brighter than ever before. Active Clearing formulas harness the best of nature and science to control breakouts and reduce the appearance of related skin aging and counter factors that contribute to breakouts and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation to improve the health of the skin barrier.
AGE bright clearing serum
This two-in one brightening and clearing serum clears and helps prevent breakouts while reducing visible signs of aging.
Key Benefits and Ingredients:
• Salicylic Acid reduces breakouts to clear skin
• *AGE Bright™ Complex works with skin’s natural microbiome for clearer, brighter skin
• Phytoactives from Resurrection Plant, known for its ability to survive extreme dehydration, hydrate and smooth skin
• Niacinamide works together with White Shiitake Mushroom to promote brighter skin, more even skin tone
Ideal for adults who regularly experience both breakouts and uneven skin tone.
Apply a thin layer (1/2 dropper) to cleansed skin and allow to dry. Use all over face under recommended Dermalogica moisturizer twice a day as needed.
AGE bright spot fader
This two-in one brightening spot treatment reduces the appearance of active breakouts and post-breakout marks.
Key Benefits and Ingredients:
• Salicylic Acid reduces breakouts to clear skin
• *AGE Bright™ Complex reduces visible skin aging and helps prevent over-drying
• Niacinamide & Hexylresorcinol work synergistically to fade post-breakout marks improving uneven skin tone
Ideal for adults concerned about post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation from breakouts.
Apply directly (spot treat) upon first sign of breakout. Reapply 2x daily until spot fades.
*AGE Bright™ complex: This blend of actives and essential oils works with the skin’s natural microbiome to promote clearer, brighter skin. Terpineol (isolated from Pinus Sylvestris, or Pine Oil) and Thymol (from Thymus Vulgaris, or Thyme) help reduce P. acnes and sebum while Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) helps reduce visible skin aging by fading post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
MediBac Clearing’s Clearing Skin Wash & Overnight Clearing Gel will transition to Active Clearing with no formulation changes.
These products clear breakouts and visible signs of aging by:
• Reducing excess sebum (oil) which diminishes the food source for P. acnes bacteria along with oily shine
• Stimulating natural exfoliation superficially as well as in the follicle lining to reduce and prevent cell accumulation. This helps eliminate the impaction of follicles, which triggers the early stages of comedone formation.
• Controlling P. acnes bacteria on the skin’s surface and in the follicle, which helps promote clear skin
• Stopping inflammaging before it starts by helping to protect skin from environmental assault, promoting barrier health and soothing skin
How is Active Clearing different from MediBac Clearing®?
MediBac Clearing focused on four physiological factors that contributed to breakouts while considering the unique needs of adult skin. Active Clearing offers the same benefits, plus the added benefits of brightening skin tone and reducing premature signs of skin aging such as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
Photography: Courtesy of Dermalogica
