What Causes Adult Acne and How Can You Avoid It?

Nov 05, 2020

Here’s something no adult wants to hear…

No matter what age, it seems as though everyone can suffer from breakouts.

As you enter your 20s, 30s, or 40s, there’s nothing more disappointing than realizing your acne didn’t end with your teenage years. But while coming to terms with adult acne is sometimes painful, it’s reassuring to know you’re not the only one dealing with pesky zits and pimples!

However, you know what the most frustrating part is? Getting down to the actual root of the problem and figuring out what the heck is causing your adult acne.

Sometimes it’s just a matter of taking better care of your skin. Things like washing with a high-quality cleanser twice a day and exfoliating on a regular basis might just do the trick… but not always.

After digging into the research, we found out there are more than a few common things that typically cause adult acne. Check this out.

Most Common Causes of Adult Acne

1. Stress

Not only does chronic stress make you want to pull your hair out… but it can also play a big part in adult acne.

According to research, there seems to be a strong link between the hormone cortisol, which is released when your body is under ample amounts of stress, and frequent acne. This is because an influx of cortisol increases sebum (aka oil) production, resulting in clogged pores and more zits popping up.

2. Pollution

Have you ever given thought to what the nasty pollution in the air is doing to your skin? All the dust, dirt, and other environmental particles crank up inflammation and sebum production in your skin to spur acne breakouts.

3. Hormonal Fluctuations

You probably already know this, but hormones affect every aspect of your body -- including the skin. A boost in hormones results in a boost in oil production, spurring clogged pores and bacteria to instigate acne.

Even crazier, scientists have discovered that parabens, which are present in many products, mimic estrogens and interrupt hormone function. Hello, unwanted zits and pimples!

4. Acne-Causing Products

Not only does using the wrong products stimulate acne in teenagers, it can also play a part in adult acne.

If you’re prone to breakouts or have oily/combination skin, using anything from heavy makeup and moisturizers to crummy hair and body care products can clog pores, promote bacteria growth, and irritate the skin and cause breakouts.

For many, especially adults with sensitive skin, hair and body care products containing harmful sulfates and parabens can irritate their skin, and heavy oils can clog pores, causing pomade acne. This type of acne can pop up anywhere along the forehead, neck, back, chest, and even the scalp!

Unfortunately, many popular hair and body care products lining the shelves are chock full of these harmful ingredients! And they’re not doing you or your skin any favors.

This is exactly why teens and adults have turned to high-quality hair and body care products, such as shampoo, conditioner, and others from TEENOLOGY, that feature all of the good stuff and none of the bad stuff.

TEENOLOGY products are infused with high-quality antioxidants, beneficial natural botanical extracts, and delectable scents… and they leave out all the nasty sulfates, hormone-disrupting parabens, and pore-blocking oils!

(Psst, after you experience the powerful acne-blasting properties of TEENOLOGY, you’ll no doubt want to do a little happy dance!)

girl dancing because she eliminated her adult acne with TEENOLOGY

TEENOLOGY Testimonials from Happy Adults

If you aren’t sure TEENOLOGY is right for you as an adult, check out these raving reviews from our non-teen customers!

“I want to let you know how much I love your products and appreciate that your company exists! I'm fortunate to have never suffered from severe acne yet my pores have always plugged up easily, leading to facial, back, and even arm breakouts. I turned 40 this year and am still super conscious of the hair and makeup products that I use. My shower is full of Teenology items :) I wish your company had been there for me 25 years ago! Thanks for what you do." - Shannon R.

"Best Shampoo I've Ever Used - I bought this for my teen son and decided to try it out. LOVE this shampoo and conditioner. It smells wonderful and my hair looked better, smooth not frizzy but still a lot of bounce which is saying a lot because my hair is so thin. I'm sold...Will continue to use teenology." - Gloria C.

“I purchased Teenology for my son, but after running out of my own expensive salon brand, I decided to try his shampoo and conditioner. I was drawn to the amazing smells and having colored hair, knew that Teenology’s sulfate-free formula was safe for me to use. I was very surprised with how clean and soft my hair felt after one use. I have continued to use Teenology and really like the way my hair looks and feels. I would recommend adults to give it a try.” - Michele R.

“I am 69 years old and a grandmother. For the last two years I got ‘acne’ like breakouts on my scalp at the nape of my neck. I tried several different commercial shampoos, even the professional "natural" ones, and still experienced scalp acne. I tried Teenology shampoos out of desperation. I was embarrassed to go to the beauty parlor to get my haircut. I didn't want my stylist to notice the breakouts on my scalp. I was sceptical that your products could work but I gave them a try. I immediately noticed a huge difference. I returned to a different shampoo for a couple of days as a test and my scalp immediately broke out again. Now the only shampoo I use is Teenology. I will not use any other brand. Plus my hair is full bodied and very shiny. Thank you!” - Carolyn K.

“I bought this for my daughter and ended up using it myself. I love the smell and the conditioner is a great detangler.” - Steve O.

“My kids, ages 11 and 8, absolutely love this shampoo - now they actually look forward to taking a shower! They especially like the scent (vanilla) and they say it leaves their hair feeling very clean. I can vouch for them because I've used the shampoo and it's great for adults, too. We are pleased with the shampoo, it is very reasonably priced, and the handling and delivery of the order occurred in a flash. Top notch all the way!” - RTK

“I love this! I purchased the shampoo and conditioner a week after giving birth to my son because the hormones made my scalp breakout. I had tons of little white heads and awful, painful under the skin pimples. I have been using both shampoo and conditioner for two weeks and my head is completely clear! I’m so happy that I’m scalp pain free!” - Rebecca Neff

If you’re an adult who regularly experiences acne breakouts caused by hair and body care products, it might be time to swap your regular shampoo, conditioner, and body wash for something more skin-friendly!

Discover TEENOLOGY shampoos, conditioners, body wash, and hair styling products, and clear up your skin by giving it a break from nasty sulfates, parabens, and pore-clogging oils.

Here’s to healthy hair and skin!