General Question

AnonymousWoman's avatar

I'm almost 20. Why do I still have acne?

Asked by AnonymousWoman (6531points) March 18th, 2010
18 responses
“Great Question” (1points)

I was told that when I’m older, my acne would clear and be gone. Why do I still have it? Do I need to eat differently? Is there something wrong with me? Are any of you in the same position as me or have you ever been? If you currently have acne, how old are you? If you used to have acne, how long did it take for it to clear up? What is the best way to get rid of it? In other words, what actually does work?

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Answers

Lothloriengaladriel's avatar

I never heard it had anything to do with age, It could be your skin type, or products you’re using
I’m 24 years old and do not have acne nor have I ever suffered with it, I use cetaphil cleanser

MrItty's avatar

Mine cleared up by the time I got to college. My mother’s (now aged 54) never did.

njnyjobs's avatar

There are several causes of adult acne, these include: Stress, bad cosmetics, hormones and birth control pills. Stress causes your oil glands to overcompensate. Bad cosmetics lead to bacteria-laden pores. Hormones cause the sebacuous glands to overact and birth control pills with androgen in them can cause breakouts.

Also, Acne usually begins with blackheads. Blackheads are not dirt, they’re actually the result of oil and dead cells getting trapped in a pore where they block the duct and mix with bacteria. They then turn black when exposed to air. Red pimples develop when blackheads become inflamed and they spread when touched with dirty hands. When the pimple becomes infected, it develops a whitehead or pustule. These can break and cause scars.

So, best way to prevent acne is to gently exfoliate or keeping your skin clear.

Snarp's avatar

There’s no age limit on acne. I’m 35 and I’ve had acne ever since I was 16. It’s not nearly as bad now, but it’s still there. At 20, you probably have a bit older to get yet before it eases up or goes away, but it may never go away completely, no matter what you do.

Lightlyseared's avatar

When I was 30 something I still had severe acne. (Then I got round to going to the doc who sorted it out in about 2 months).

shadling21's avatar

I’m 23, and I’m in the same boat as you. I thought my acne would have been gone by now, but it’s not. I’ve tried a bunch of different things, but it hasn’t gone away. Have you ever talked to a dermatologist?

Lve's avatar

I am 24 and still get a zit every now and then, but it was worse when I was a teenager. You really have to make sure you are using the right products on your face, and find out what type of skin you have. I have noticed that can make a difference. And if it is really bad, you should consider seeing a dermatologist.
@njnyjobs when I went on the pill it actually helped my skin clear up..I guess that could have been a coincidence..?

noyesa's avatar

I’ve never had major acne problems, but I’m turning 21 in a few weeks and I still get the occasional visit every once in a while.

Your environment has a huge impact. When we visit the girlfriend’s family in Maryland (very humid) I break out like I’m 14 years old again. In my apartment, it’s not so bad, and growing up in my parents’ house I never got bad acne, but enough to be annoying.

Sometimes it just takes the right treatment. I’ve tried all kinds of facial cleansers and moisturizers and finally found the perfect fit for my skin. Some of the more popular cleansers and lotions actually made my problem worse and were usually too oily. Some of them dried out my skin so badly, not even moisturizer would stop pimples from showing up. I’ve found a good combination from a higher end Nivea salicylic acid based cleanser and Pond’s moisturizer, which kind of smells like baby powder but it works really well for me. Your mileage will vary, but I get perfect results with this combo—completely clear.

Your_Majesty's avatar

People that said acne will disappear when they get older usually refer acne as the result of hormonal changes. Yes,that’s the reason. But that is just one of many reason why acne still grow on your face,we can still have acne no matter how old we are. Usually what cause acne is your face sanitation problem(have you washed your face properly with the right product?),acne can still grow as the result of dusty hot condition,wrong diet,etc. So I suggest that you must inspect what cause your acne first. If you really want to cure your acne then you can buy some professional/high quality acne product and use it properly(choose the one you want,I use one set of Tea Tree product from The Body Shop,it’s natural and works good on me).

silverfly's avatar

Oh, I feel you on this one. I had it for a long time and I tried everything from egg yolk to accutane. Mine eventually just went away, but I had it until I was about 20 / 21. I’ve found that the best solution is to mix it up and keep your face guessing. Don’t use the same medication all the time. Some other general rules are:

1. Stay away from oily products – stick to water based solutions like cetaphil or purpose (soap and lotion)

2. Don’t let your face get too dry.

3. Try not to touch your face. The oils from your hands will certainly make acne worse.

4. (for the guys) If you use an electric razor, wash your face after you shave. If you use a blade, wash your face before shaving.

5. Make sure your pillows are cleaned regularly.

6. And last but not least… ALWAYS remember that acne is a pain in the ass, but by no means makes you ugly or uncool or whatever. Don’t ever let these useless bumps de-value yourself as a great person!

Sarcasm's avatar

Are you actively trying to treat your acne, or just staring at it hoping it’ll go away?

I had extremely bad acne in middle school and 9th/10th grade. I tried a LOT of medications. Over-the-counter as well as prescription.
I ended up getting put on a treatment called Accutane (now it’s called Roaccutane, or Isotretinoin I think). Very powerful stuff.
Within 6 or so months, my acne was completely cleared out. Now I’m here 4 years later, my acne is all gone. Every once in a while I’ll get a tiny zit that’ll pop up and go away in a matter of a few days.

Ask your doctor what your options are.

Glow's avatar

Well, obviously, your acne is non-hormone related and you should try and find the cause. There are multiple reasons for acne, hormones being number one when you’re a teen. Find out the reasons why adults get it and start a list and rule each one out as you go alone and try different methods to rid yourself of them. Could just be your skin type. We can’t all be perfect!

La_Guerrera_Mas_Funki's avatar

The skin is, along with the lungs, your largest organ of detoxification. What is your diet like?

debs's avatar

Diet makes a big difference in skin health. Fat-soluble vitamins like vitamin D3 and vitamin K2 MK-4 are essential. Are you getting enough animal-based fats, particularly from animals raised on grain rather than grass? Are you having an allergic reaction or intolerance to something you’re eating?

I believe too much sugar/fructose can be detrimental as well.

aprilsimnel's avatar

I still get zits on occasion, and I’m 40. It depends on your diet, hormones and genetic factors. They were at their worst in my mid-30s. I didn’t have it so bad as a teen.

Theby's avatar

When I first met my husband-to-be he suffered from acne. We tried everything to get rid of it and nothing worked until he tried ‘Proactive Solution.’ After only three days of using it we could see the difference. After two weeks his acne was completely gone. His acne has never returned. I 100% recommend it.

partyrock's avatar

I still get Acne too and I just turned 22 :(

I think it’s due to our hormones, or stress.

Skyline43's avatar

Going on 20 and still have it too. I don’t know what to do. I’ve been leaving it alone, as in not touching it or washing it, which was helping at first. I’m seriously clueless with acne. I’ve tried everything. Dermatologists can’t even promise you anything.

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