How to Combat Adult Acne

As I write this, I can't help but poke at the enormous pimple that appeared on my cheek this morning. (It hurts!) Acne in your late-twenties? Completely unfair if you ask me, especially if you've already been through it once before. The only bit of news I can take solace in is that I'm not alone with this whole adult acne thing.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), a recent study shows that "late-set or adult-onset acne is becoming increasingly common in women in their 20s, 30s, 40s and even 50s." Apparently, 45 percent of women in my age range (21 to 30) are dealing with similar pimple problems. That number decreases to 26 percent once I reach the next age range (31 to 40). Yay?

So, all that's good to know, but what about the red, swollen mountain on my cheek? Well, I just learned about these three surprising tips I'm definitely going to try tonight gathered from some of the best dermatologists around:

1. Change your pillowcase.
Every night when you lay your head down on your pillow, your hair transfers all of the hair products that you wear every day, like gel, wax, and hairspray, not to mention smog, grease, smoke and dirt, to your pillowcase. Then, you put your face in it. Bad news. Instead, change your pillowcase every day, every other day or every third day.

2. Sleep with your hair pulled back.
Again, hair is the collector of all that is dirty, so if you keep it pulled back off your forehead and the rest of your face, you'll start to see a difference.

3. Stop the caffeine.
Avoid anything that ends in "ine" that means caffeine because caffeine acts as a diuretic and dehydrates skin. So if you're a coffee drinker and you have problems with breakouts, loosen the grip on your mug.

Causes of adult acne
We all thought we’d put acne behind us, but all of a sudden, the pimples of our teen years are popping back—and with a vengeance! What happened? Wrinkles are bad enough, but to have to endure acne all over again is downright unfair. Find out what causes adult acne and what you can do to treat and prevent it.

1. Blame it on stress
When we are under stress, our body releases a hormone called cortisol. This, in turn, amps up our body’s production of oil. And when that oil gets clogged, by dirt or makeup, you know what happens next. A huge zit, usually in the most conspicuous part of the face.

2. Goodbye sleep, hello acne!
When we were teens we grabbed every chance stay up to party all night. And most of us are still up burning the midnight oil, but for less entertaining reasons: cramming an important presentation, staying up with a sick baby, or fighting off stress-induced insomnia. Well, those late hours are affecting our skin. Hormones go haywire when we mess up our sleep patterns. So, when you wake up, you not only have to worry about dark circles, but pimples too!

3. Hormonal fluctuations
We’re more prone to acne during adolescence because of hormonal fluctuations. The hormones settle down in our twenties, but they can act up again: pregnancy, menopause, or when we stop taking birth control pills.

4. Best anti-acne treatments
Many skincare products are designed to treat acne breakouts. Read the label. Look for benzoyl (which kills the bacteria that leads to acne) or salicylic acid (which helps break down any clogs in the pores). You can also ask for prescription products from dermatologists (these usually have higher levels of acne-fighting ingredients).

Wash your face every day with a gentle cleanser. Don’t pop pimples (which can lead to scars) and never scrub your face very hard (irritated skin is more prone to breakouts).