If you're an adult and still suffer from acne, you're not alone. Acne happens to 80% of teenagers and many adults, too. It's a common skin condition that results in pimples, whiteheads and blackheads.
The main cause of acne is the overproduction of sebum, an oily substance that helps maintain skin moisture levels. This happens when the sebaceous glands in your skin are stimulated by hormones called androgens. Androgens are also responsible for hair growth on your body and voice changes as you mature into adulthood.
The most common cause of acne is clogged pores. When oil and dead skin cells get trapped in the pore, bacteria feeds on them and causes inflammation.
To avoid acne-causing bacteria, it's important to keep your skin clean. But don't scrub—this can irritate your skin and make things worse.
First off, be sure to wash your face twice daily with warm water and gentle cleanser (without drying out your skin). Then use an oil-free moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated throughout the day—this will help prevent dryness that can lead to inflammation and worsen acne breakouts.
Next up: stress reduction! Stress is one of the biggest triggers for acne flare-ups because it causes our bodies' natural production of cortisol (a hormone) to go up—which makes our pores clog up faster than normal due to increased oil production when we're stressed out. So take some time every day to relax by taking a walk outside or listening music.
Lastly, make sure you're drinking enough water every day—around eight glasses for most people—and eating lots of fruits and vegetables as well as whole grains like rice or oats that contain plenty of dietary fiber