They say there is a light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to acne, which is the adage that it’s “just a phase. You grow out of it. It won’t last forever.”

It’s these popular beliefs that keep kids going. In fact, if you ask many adolescents, they might tell you that their acne will just go away on its own eventually. Which is the case for some people. But the truth is, for most folks, acne doesn’t just go away once you hit a certain age.

Many people believe that acne is caused by skin not being cleaned well enough-- as if acne is caused merely by being dirty and is easily fixed by simply cleaning the skin. The fact of the matter is the true culprits are hereditary and mostly have to do with hormones. This is why teenagers are so likely to break out. It is due to the dramatic fluctuation in hormone levels during adolescence. Testosterone increases, triggering the secretion of excess oil in the sebaceous glands. Bacteria and dead skin get trapped in the pores, resulting in acne breakouts.

Adult acne, on the other hand, is caused by slower skin turnover that happens along with excess oil production, sweating, and hormonal changes that come with getting older.

It’s estimated that 80-85 percent of teens experience acne breakouts. Adult acne, which is characterized by flares and remissions throughout your entire life, is fairly common amongst those who have suffered from adolescent acne.

Things that can affect adult acne range from stress levels to the food you eat, what cosmetics you wear, and how much sleep you’re getting. To make matters worse, if you are a woman, acne is much more likely to last longer and be more severe than it would be for your typical male counterpart. This is due to fluctuating hormones, changes in testosterone levels, birth control, and even menopause. Approximately 25% of men are affected by adult acne, whereas 50% of women experience it at least once in their lifetime.

Now, when we are asked how long it takes to clear acne with our treatments here at Skintherapy, our usual response is 6 months to a year. How do we get those results in such a short period of time?

Most people need one form of treatment or another to fully treat acne. We implement a wide range of options, giving us the opportunity to provide a regiment that doesn’t over-dry or under-deliver. Proper use of topical treatments, such as toners, moisturizers, and ingredients like salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide are essential to help control breakouts and prevent scarring.

It is good to remember that acne has no cure, but it can be cleared away with the right treatments. In some people, acne clears soon after leaving their teenage years behind. However, most people are not that lucky.

For most people who work with us, our acne treatments produce positive results within the first 3-6 months of starting. We help people keep their acne under control, even those who didn’t get to see the end of their acne until their senior years.

It is good to keep in mind that there are lifestyle changes you can make to reduce flare-ups and help control your acne. Eating well, sleeping well, and keeping stress levels low are great ways to combat breakouts. Also, remember to be careful what kind of makeup you’re using and avoid pore-cloggers in your products.

If you want to see the results the typical person has working with us, check out this page of our website. For any questions, or to set up an appointment, give us a call at 801-800-6602. We are located in Salt Lake City, UT.

Who doesn’t love a delicious slice of pizza on a Friday night? Or an appetizing cheeseburger while out to lunch with friends? Greasy foods have become a staple called “American Food” and rightly so. There’s nothing more American than throwing some hot dogs on the grill and serving them up for the whole neighborhood. These types of foods are delicious. That’s why they’re so popular. The only problem is they’re heavy in omega 6 essential fatty acids and incredibly laden with grease and other ingredients that aren’t conducive to a healthy diet or healthy skin.

Let’s take pizza, for example. Pizza is usually made with iodized salt, which aggravates acne. Another prime ingredient (or culprit, if you will) in pizza is cheese. Cheese contains dairy, which contains IG1 or insulin-growth factor and over 60 different hormones. These hormones occur naturally whether the cow is organically raised, fed, etc. or not.  Since all cows which produce milk are pregnant all milk products are laden with extra hormones naturally.  Extra hormones competing with human hormone levels means more breakouts for the acne prone person.

As you can see, it’s not as cut and dry as “Do greasy foods make me break out?” as much as “What ingredients in food could make me break out?”

Internally, greasy foods don’t do much for you health-wise, as I’m sure we’re all aware. Externally, greasy foods can give you a nice little breakout around your lips, cheeks, and chin if you’re not careful, as grease is great at clogging pores. This is not to say you should avoid these foods altogether. Just be aware of how often and how much you consume them. Plus take an interest in what other ingredients these foods might contain. Iodized salt, Canola Oil, Soy Bean Oil, Milk products etc., are all known aggravators of acne.

While we suggest reducing the amounts of greasy foods you enjoy you might consider adding supplements to your daily routine also. Even if you already have a good handle on what foods you consume and just want to add something to help with your acne, you might want to consider taking the following vitamins and supplements.

Healthy Skin Formula
Healthy Skin Formula is a vitamin supplement cocktail that has been recommended by skin care professionals for over 15 years. It’s got zinc, vitamin A, selenium, and more to boost your skin’s health and beauty.

Fish Oil
Earlier in this article, I mentioned how American foods are high in omega 6. Omega 6s are highly inflammatory, and therefore cause a lot of acne in adults and young adults. Fish Oil contains omega 3, which balances out all the inflammation in your diet. It helps calm acne and gets your skin clear faster.

Culturelle Probiotic
Want to help your digestion in the best way possible? Include Culturelle Probiotic in your diet. It aids in digestion and adds good bacteria and probiotics to your system. Probiotics are good for reducing breakouts and can help those who have been on long-term antibiotics.

For more help in creating the best lifestyle for clear skin, visit our office 1817 S Main Street, #18 Salt Lake City, UT 84115. Or click here to book your appointment today.