Adult acne is on the rise; the levels of stress and pollution that we experience in our everyday lives is thought to be a major contributing factor. As a sufferer myself I know a thing or two about this nasty skin condition. Having had clear skin all through my teens and always taking it for granted, it came as a big shock when I hit twenty and started getting persistent breakouts.

We’re going to be investigating several methods of acne prevention from skincare ingredients to the contraceptive pill, but first we ask ‘why do we get adult acne?’ Read on to find out…

The spots that we get in our twenties and further afield isn’t down to the same stresses and aggressors as when we were in our teens, so skincare needs to be looked at in a different light. Strong cleansers like Clearasil will damage the skin; oiliness isn’t the sole problem anymore… although it may be a contributing factor.

Environmental issues are troublesome and pesky when it comes to acne. Pollution, smog and city grime can wreak havoc on complexions, and add to that nicotine, alcohol, stress and a lack of sleep and it is no wonder that our skin starts to act up.

The most common issue for adults with acne is all down to hormones. There is a theory that spots on the lower face, around the chin and cheeks, signify a hormonal imbalance. That  time of month leads to an overproduction of sebum which creates a build up of chin acne.

Another theory cites that forehead spots and pimples tend to be down to a poor diet and dehydration. Stepping up your fruit and veg intake and ditching some of your coffee intake for a glasses of water could well see you on your way to clearer skin.

People who don’t have acne really don’t know how lucky they are, good skin health is so easy to take for granted. It can be an embarrassing condition and leave sufferers feel insecure. Hopefully, this series of articles will open up some issues and give you new ideas for tackling those pesky and stubborn spots.