You probably don’t need us to tell you that acne is one of the most common skin conditions on planet earth. What you might not realize is that it is the most common skin condition amongst all Americans, including approximately 85% of all individuals at some point between ages 12 and 24. Many men feel like they have outgrown the possibility of an acne outbreak, only to be sorely disappointed when one sprouts up. The fact remains that acne remains prevalent in men of all ages.
So what can we do about it? Today, we will review some of the basics on acne including how men and boys can reduce their risk of outbreak and how simple skincare habits can effectively manage many symptoms of acne.
What is Acne?
The baseline cause of acne stems from hair follicles becoming clogged. This typically occurs when dead skin cells, sebum (naturally produced body oil), and other debris can become stuck on the skin’s surface. When hair follicles are clogged, they can become inflamed and irritated. Acne symptoms might include blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, nodules, and cystic lesions.
There are a number of commonly held misconceptions about skincare as it relates to acne, which can actually lead some individuals to go down a detrimental path. For example, diet has virtually nothing to do with the formation, duration, or severity of acne symptoms. Acne is also not necessarily a result of an overabundance of oil on the skin. The reality of acne is more complex and can differ from person to person.
Common Causes of Acne in Adult Men
So what about acne in adult men — are there different causes which can trigger an acne breakout? Acne in men can actually differ significantly from the acne which may be experienced in women and/or kids. There are a few reasons for this:
Acne in men is frequently triggered by hormonal changes. Since acne is not as common in adults as it is for children and teengagers in particular, there is usually some sort of bodily change which leads to a breakout. Hormonal imbalances can lead to greater oil production. Greater oil production can lead to clogged hair follicles. Clogged hair follicles can lead to infection and acne symptoms.
Men most frequently see acne outbreaks on their back and face. You may have noticed that periods of time where you were putting in extra time at the gym or working hard on the job, led to acne. This is not a coincidence. Hot weather, excessive sweating, and other factors are likely causes of acne in men.
How to Manage and/or Treat Acne in Adults
Acne treatments are in no short supply. The issue is finding a treatment which works best for your unique situation. Here are a few tips to treat and/or manage acne for men:
- Practice good hygiene. Now I’m not saying that men don’t know how to keep ourselves clean, but I am saying that I have turned a pair of underwear inside out a few times in my day. If acne is cropping up, start by making sure you are cleansing your entire body (face in particular) once a day, and that you have clean clothes and bedding.
- Don’t overdo cleansing. On the flipside, attacking the acne-prone area with excessive washing can actually cause acne to worsen. Overdrying and over cleansing your skin can actually lead to more sebum to be produced in response.
- Leave your acne alone! Popping pimples might be strangely satisfying, but it isn’t going to do you any favors when it comes to clearing up acne. Let it be and give your skin time to clear.
- Consider acute treatments. With cases of moderate to severe acne, going to see a doctor for acute treatment can be the best option.
How Men Can Avoid Acne with Simple Lifestyle Changes
Many of us prefer to nip our problems in the bud. If you want to stop acne from rearing its ugly head in the future, here are a few natural and easy lifestyle changes you can make today which can lead to clear, healthy skin.
- Reduce stress: there is perhaps no greater cause of acne in adult men than sudden onslaughts of stress. While much stress is unavoidable, dealing with stress in a productive manner is always an option.
- Get plenty of sleep: another tried and true method of keeping acne at bay is getting plenty of sleep every night. Just remember to do so on freshly cleaned sheets and pillow cases.
- Shower immediately after workouts and/or getting sweaty: as we discussed above, letting sweat and oil stagnate on skin is a great way for acne to spread.
- Keep your phone clean: trust us, your phone is disgusting. Clean your phone from time to time to keep your hands clean, which in turn keeps your face and skin cleaner overall.
- Moisturize: so many people stop moisturizing at the slightest hint of acne. While you may not want to moisturize with heavy cream directly onto impacted areas, keeping skin healthy and hydrated while working through acne is a great idea!
HEFF Relief for Men Moisturizes Skin Without Clogging Pores
HEFF moisturizing cream for hands, elbows and feet has been specifically formulated for working men. Harnessing the power of amino acids, our lotion is ideal for even the most dry, cracked skin. Think of once-daily HEFF as routine maintenance for your body. Shower, shave, apply daily moisturizing cream, and you are all set for a day of hard work or hard play.
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