Adult acne: it’s super common, yet can hold much angst for those who feel it should be something they leave behind in their teenage years.

It might be cold comfort, but adult acne does differ in some ways to what you experience in your teens. It is more likely to present as reddish nodules around the mouth, jawline and on the chin, as opposed to the whiteheads and blackheads that typically occur for teenagers on the forehead, nose and cheeks.

At Epiology, we feel it shouldn’t be something that weighs you down, or you hide behind copious amounts of make-up. There are heaps of ways you can work with your skin (with your skin, not against), so you can step out with confidence and do some serious adulting.

1. How are those hormones?

Good old fluctuating hormones, particularly around the menstrual cycle for women, can be a big cause of adult acne – particularly on the jawline and chin. Chronic stress also has a part to play, something that can be much more prominent in adulthood, as we juggle work, family, friends, and a home.

Hormonal acne are the deep, cystic pimples women may be blessed with before their period starts – and sometimes they aren’t just limited to your face. Some of the luckier ones get them on their neck, chest and back. COOL.

Basically hormonal acne is a result of your hormones going haywire, causing inflamed skin and increased oil (sebum) production in the pores. Pores then get clogged up with dead skin cells and impurities, leading to what we identify as adult acne.

The best course of action? Make sure your Epiology anti-acne skincare regime is on point 24/7. Don’t just ramp it up when you feel or see acne forming.

2. Are you washing your face too much?

There’s a reason we say to use Epiology 2-3 times daily – any more than that and you will likely end up with the opposite of your desired result: inflamed skin. Gentle gentle is key.

The Epiology skincare range is ideal for adult acne – our Anti-Acne Foaming Cleanser prevents the spread of acne-causing bacteria, removing oil to leave skin smooth. The Advanced Anti-Acne Cream is hydrating and clinically proven to prevent acne and reduce redness, and our Extra-Strength Spot Gel gets inside pores to prevent the formation of new pimples and reduce scarring.

If you want to give your skin a good boost (and a bit of pampering!), give our Anti-Acne Recovery Mask  a try. It combines our patented ingredient IDP® and hyaluronic acid to rescue and restore your skin.

Unfortunately, acne is often about patience. It can take up to three weeks to see your skin start to really clear up and feel happy and healthy again.

3. Ingredients to look out for

Adult skin often suffers from dryness, more so than when you’re younger, and many acne products with ingredients like benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid can be harsh, causing redness and irritation.

Instead, look for products that have anti-bacterial properties and soothing, moisturising ingredients, like Epiology. It might seem counter-intuitive to add oil or moisture to the skin and not take it away, but stay with us. Oily skin is caused by the over-production of sebum underneath the skin’s surface, not adding moisture. Moisturising is key to keeping the skin’s barrier healthy.

4. Get out and enjoy your life!

At the end of the day, you’re not the first, and you won’t be the last to get acne. If you’re having a bad pimple day, cleanse, moisturise and treat what you can, then forget about it! Don’t let it hold you back in that big presentation at work, or on your next Bumble date.