MEN'S GUIDE TO ADULT ACNE

Unfortunately, acne is not limited to those awkward teenage years.  Many men well into their adulthood, still deal with this reality.  When acne surfaces, it can erode your self-confidence and give you flashbacks to those awkward teenage years.  Fortunately, as an adult you can adopt a simple skincare routine men using the best men’s skincare products to deal with adult acne.

What is Adult Acne in Men? 

Acne is most common among teenagers, but it affects people well beyond their teenage years.  In adults, this is referred to as adult acne.  Acne and pimples are formed when your hair follicles become plugged with excess sebum (oils) that are mixed with bacteria from dead skin cells.  

What Are the Most Common Causes of Acne?

1. Stress: Stress increases androgens (male hormones) which stimulates sebum (oil) production and increases the risk of pimples and acne.
2. Excessively Dry Skin: Using a harsh face wash or not using a moisturizer can cause the skin to dry out and rev up the sebaceous glands to produce more oil to balance out your skin.  An overproduction of sebum puts you at higher risk for blemishes, pimples, and acne.
3. Using Harsh Skincare Products: Products that are not compatible or are too harsh for your skin may cause irritation and stress out the skin, leading to blemishes, pimples, and acne. 
4. Overusing Skincare Products: When it comes to acne skincare, skincare tips for men with Oily Skin and using natural men's skincare is key.  Overusing products or using too many products in a short period of time can lead to irritation and increase risk of pimples and acne. 

How to Combat and Treat Adult Acne in Men  

When it comes to treating acne, patience, a healthy lifestyle, simplified skincare routine and natural skincare for men are keys to success.  

1. Reduce stress, eat healthy, and get adequate sleep. A healthy lifestyle reduces stress hormones and keeps your sebaceous glands from overproducing oil.
2. Use gentle natural skincare products. Use a natural face wash for men that cleans without stripping your skin of its natural oils for morning and night. Then follow with a non-comedogenic (non-pore clogging) face balm with SPF for daytime and non-comedogenic antioxidant face moisturizer for men at night to replenish and revitalize skin.
3. Simplify your regimen. Cleanse with natural face wash for men morning and night, exfoliate with men's face scrub twice a week.  Follow with with daytime moisturizer with spf and at night an antioxidant rich moisturizer to nourish and revitalize the skin.
4. Spot treat active acne, pimples, and blemishes with Benzoyl Peroxide or a Glycolic Acid and Salicylic Acid treatment serum or cream. 

Daytime Routine to Treat Adult Acne in Men

1. Cleanse with natural men's face wash
2. Follow with men's face moisturizer with SPF
3. To conceal an active pimple/acne, apply a concealer (look for one a shade lighter than your skin) using your fingertip to dab, feather outwards / blend the concealer until it masks the acne, and the concealer is not noticeable.  **Key is to use a small amount and keep dabbing until it blends into skin and becomes unnoticeable.  

Nighttime Routine to Treat Adult Acne in Men

1. Cleanse with gentle face wash for men
2. Use a warm compress on the acne (helps bring it to a head at the surface)
3. Use a 2% salicylic acid toner
4. Finish with an antioxidant rich moisturizer with AHA and BHA
5. Apply a pimple patch over the active acne to treat, reduce inflammation and bacteria

** Urth’s Post Shave Elixir is an men's aftershave with salicylic acid.  A rich razor bump serum powered by lactic acid and salicylic acid ingrown hair treatment.  It is also effective for minimizing acne, pores and blackheads.  Dab on affected area and reapply as needed.  It can also be used as a leave on serum under day or nighttime moisturizer or as a 10 min rinse off mask.  Avoid close contact to eyes.