As teens, most of us believed that our acne breakouts would come to an end when we became adults, or at least by the time we turned 25. Unfortunately for our teenage selves, between 40 and 55 percent of American adults between the ages of 20 and 40 suffer from at least low-grade acne, reports the International Dermal Institute.
Your skin’s needs change as you age. Whether you’ve suffered from acne for years or are experiencing your first breakouts in your adult years, the way you choose to treat your breakouts should change with time as well. The treatments that balanced out your oily skin or helped make pimples disappear when you were 15 might not have the same effect at 25 or 35.
If you’re suffering from adult acne or other skin woes, like dryness or wrinkles, keep reading to learn how to overcome these challenges as you age.
Dry Skin
As we age, our skin begins to produce fewer natural oils and cell renewal slows. This, in addition to any sun damage that you might have sustained, begins to cause dry skin as we age.
While too much moisturizer might have left your skin oily in your 20s or even 30s, when your skin begins to lose its natural oil barrier and you no longer have the cell renewal you once did, you’ll likely need to up your moisturizer game to keep up. Avoiding harsh exfoliants and hydrating your body from the inside out can also help to combat your dry skin.
Acne Breakouts
When breakouts happen long after you’ve left your high school years behind, it may be tempting to reach for products with ingredients similar to what worked for your teenage skin. But your skin has come a long way in the last few years (or decades) and needs a different approach if you want to clear up acne once and for all.
Benzoyl peroxide is one of the best ingredients for fighting acne breakouts. This powerful ingredient eliminates bacteria on the surface of the skin before it can seep into your pores and block them. While benzoyl peroxide for acne can be irritating for some when used daily, Rodan + Fields’ BP02 formula maximizes its pimple-fighting power while minimizing the chance of irritation.
Wrinkles
Wrinkles are often touted as the dreaded sign that our skin is beginning to show its age. In reality, wrinkles can form at any age and may be caused by a variety of factors. Excessive sun exposure, for instance, can cause wrinkles at an early age, as can smoking and other lifestyle choices.
When it comes to treating wrinkles, the earlier you start, the better. But whether you’re taking preemptive measures or looking to treat wrinkles that you already have, it’s important to consider your skin’s unique qualities and needs when choosing beauty products. For instance, if your skin is already prone to dryness or acne breakouts, you need to choose products that also target these challenges. Keeping your skin moisturized and avoiding harsh scrubbing or exfoliating can also help prevent damage that may lead to wrinkles.
Besides tweaking your skincare routine, there are other ways you can reduce your chance of developing new wrinkles. Eating a healthy, balanced diet and drinking plenty of water can help keep your skin healthy and hydrated. Limiting your alcohol consumption and using a self-tanning product rather than a tanning bed or laying in the sun can also help.
Treating New Skin Challenges as You Age
The challenges that your skin is facing today may not be the same ones you’ll see in a couple of years or a decade from now. But learning the right way to treat every challenge, from wrinkles to acne breakouts, will help you maintain beautiful skin at every age.
