Why Acne is like a Clingy Ex — What Causes Pimples in Adults?
If you have suffered through acne during your teenage years, mild or severe, you would think that you have served your bad karma on earth. It’s a painful experience; the stress, anxiety, discomfort. For some of us, acne can cling on to us well into adulthood.
Why do some of us get away with having flawless skin as adults whilst others suffer a series of morning routines to make sure there is no breakout?
To explain this, we need to go back to the beginning.
What is acne and how does it occur?
Acne is the result of bacteria being trapped in your skin by sebum (oil), which blocks the pores. The signals the body’s immune system to respond as if there is an invasion in the skin. The immune system sends inflammatory chemicals to that area, causing a red, painful, swollen, pus-filled pimple to form.
Your body reacts to the small amount of bacteria being trapped in your skin as if there is a full scale invasion or as if you have been wounded. That is what inflammation is designed to do when bacteria or viruses try to enter out body. It makes sure the area is painful and swollen so that you avoid infecting it further. Only, it isn’t a wound or a bacterial invasion…
What many of us are suffering from is chronic inflammation. This is when the immune system incorrectly sends inflammatory chemicals to the site (our skin) constantly. It behaves as if the area is always threatened making acne stay for several days at time. The truth is, even without the presence of the acne bacteria, it can still trigger this response.
What’s wrong with our bodies, why is it doing that?
What should happen is; bacteria gets trapped by clogged pores. The immune system realises what a joke it is, some inflammation occurs, the area heals within a day.
Chronic inflammation is the culprit for all types of acne.
What causes this inflammation can vary, though the primary reason for adults is hormonal imbalances resulting from the diet.
Sources of Chronic Inflammation
1. Diet
Sugar in all its forms can lead to inflammation. Whether it is in the form of high calories, carbohydrates or sugar itself. For most of us, our staple diet consists of mainly these foods which is why acne and pimples have a longer life cycle.
If you immediately cut out sugar from your diet and replace it with lean meat and leafy greens, you will notice a sudden improvement in your skin. This is because the chronic inflammation will stop and your skin can begin the healing process.
A secondary effect from a rich diet is hormonal imbalance. When we are constantly eating sugar throughout the day and more than our body physically requires for energy, it disrupts and over-produces insulin. Overproduction of insulin leads to excess sebum released on the skin. Therefore, the chances of pores being blocked and an infection occurring increases.
2. Exercise
Intense daily exercise, even if just for 20 minutes, is essential to maintain good blood circulation but also for anti-inflammatory effects. High intensity exercise can lead to muscles releasing myokins (anti-inflammatory substance)and use up glucose storage which helps regulate insulin back to normal levels.
Movement is not limited just to exercise though. As adults, acne and pimples can become even worse due our lack of movement. Most of us have full time jobs which may require sitting at a desk for almost 8 hours a day; even if you are not overweight, make the effort to get in that extra body work. Get up and walk around after every hour, go for walks; the effects of chronic sitting are very serious.
3. Harsh Products
I guarantee you have used or are using something that it is worsening your situation. Everyone know make-up can lead to breakouts but the majority of products for acne and pimples can do the same.
Whether they have extra virgin ginger extract or unicorn hair added into the mix, the base used is often the same. They try to clean the skin by removing the sebum on the skin; the worst mistake you can make.
Not only is the sebum the first line of defence from foreign invasion, but it also acts like moisturising layer that gives your skin a plump, fresh look. When you try and remove it, the sebaceous glands will release even more sebum — that’s when it becomes a problem. Again, excess sebum will increases the chances of pimples appearing.
There is a soap that I would suggest for using on the skin, which is the Taoist Soap. It clears the skin in the most non-invasive way to remove dirt and bacteria but not disrupt the natural production of sebum. This is one soap which actually has anti-inflammatory ingredients so the redness and swelling is gone and the skin can begin the healing process. No harsh products. No SLS or parabens. Au naturale.
Though it might feel like acne and pimples are embarrassing and will never leave you alone; try adjusting your diet, lifestyle and the stuff you use on your face simultaneously.
Once you remove chronic inflammation from the picture, it can be treated so quickly that it will all seem like a bad dream.
You’ve probably gotten tired of hearing it but the more you try to restore the body’s natural function, whether it’s insulin or sebum production on the skin, the less likely you will get acne.
