Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Grooming

The Manual Guide to Fighting Adult Acne

Ann Binlot
By

While acne is a nuisance during your teen years, it can be even more annoying as an adult. We turned to a few acne experts for tips:

Celebrity dermatologist and acne expert, Dr. Whitney Bowe:

Related Videos

Clean Up Your Diet Nutrition may influence acne for some people.[1] Maintaining a diet of low glycemic index foods like non-starchy vegetables, steel-cut oatmeal and most fruits has been associated with improvements in acne.It may also be beneficial to avoid refined carbohydrates, such as white bread or white rice.

Give Probiotics a Try People with acne-prone skin can benefit from daily use of a topical or oral probiotic. When applied topically, probiotics cause bacterial interference and protect the skin. When taken orally, such as Lactobacilli, Bifidobacterium or in yogurts containing live cultures, probiotics could influence skin conditions such as acne by affecting what is known as the “gut-brain-skin axis.”

Talk to your dermatologist It’s important to visit your dermatologist to discuss treatment options and figure out what works best for you.

Television host and blogger, Lindsey Calla lives by these simple wellness tips:

More Matcha Matcha has a high concentration of antioxidants. Try it in a latte or add it to your morning green smoothie.

Breathe, Stretch, Meditate Engaging in a form of relaxation such as yoga, tai chi or meditation can greatly reduce stress, which may cause acne to flare in women. I also recommend taking five to ten minutes at the beginning or end of your day to focus on deep breathing in order to relax.

Make Time to Sweat Regular exercise is important for overall well-being and can improve some skin conditions that are worsened by stress.8,9 Exercise can also improve your mood by reducing stress and increasing the production of endorphins.

Annie Chiu, Los Angeles-based dermatologist and acne expert:

Make easy adjustments to your skincare routine For example, if you tend to have oily hair you may want to consider shampooing daily.

Watch what you eat Nutrition, specifically carbohydrates, may impact acne for some people. In this case, it may be beneficial for those who suffer from acne to adopt a diet consisting of low-glycemic foods, such as non-starchy vegetables and 100% stone-ground whole wheat or pumpernickel bread, and avoid refined carbohydrates.

Proativ+ Complete Kit
Everybody from Diddy to Justin Bieber endorses this, and it’s been tried and true for years. If you have severe acne, this is probably your best bet.
$69.95 at proactiv.com.

La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo and La Roche Posay Effaclar Gel
There’s a reason why the French have such good skin. They wash their faces with the refreshing La Roche Posay Gel, and then they treat their acne with La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo, which has Micronized Benzoyl Peroxide (5.5%) to fight acne deep in the skin, plus Micro-Exfoliating LHA provides precise cell by cell exfoliation to clear away dulling cellular debris and oil.
La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo, $39.95 at laroche-posay.us; La Roche Posay Effaclar Gel, $14.99 at laroche-posay.us.

Jack Black 3-in-1 Clear Complexion Solution Razor Bump & Acne Treatment
This handy product treats acne, razor bumps and it also acts as a daily astringent
$25 at nordstrom.com.

Menscience Men’s Acne Treatment System
This treatment system was developed specifically for the needs of men.
For more information, visit menscience.com.

Kiehl’s Acne Blemish Control Daily Skin-Clearing Treatment
This treatment is formulated with a powerful blend of blemish-fighting Dioic, Salicylic and Lipo Hydroxy Acids to clear up your skin.
$30 at kiehls.com.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Baby Botox is yet another hot TikTok trend: Is it right for you?
Is this latest TikTok trend actually worth checking out? Our experts weigh in.
baby botox in office

 You’ve likely heard of Botox. The minimally-invasive injectable, which can relax wrinkle-causing facial muscles, is trending among men. About 250,000 men received Botox in 2020, according to a report from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Though it’s a far cry from the more than 4 million women who underwent the procedure, it’s considerably more than in 2000.
There’s another potential wrinkle in the “Brotox” trend: Baby botox. The reduced-dosage Botox went from TikTok to the Washington Post last year, with Gen-Z and Millennials in particular saying they’re doing it to “prevent wrinkles.” However, there’s no peer-reviewed research on low-dose Botox, though studies have shown regular Botox is a low-risk way to reduce facial wrinkles.
Exactly what is baby Botox, and do experts think it’s worth a shot? We spoke with a pair of experts and pored through data to answer your most pressing questions, including: How many units is baby Botox? And how much does baby Botox cost?

What is baby Botox?
Baby Botox is like regular Botox, but it’s administered at lower doses.
“Botox is an injectable drug with the main active ingredient of botulinum toxin type A, a neurotoxin that is derived from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum,” explains Dr. Michele Green, a cosmetic dermatologist.
Botox stops targeted muscles from contracting.
“This temporarily paralyzes the targeted muscle and prevents repeated muscle movement, like furrowing and raising your eyebrows, which leads to dynamic wrinkles,” Green says.
How many units is baby Botox? There’s no hard-and-fast number. An average dose of regular Botox is 30 to 40 units, so baby Botox would be administered at lower dose, such as 10 units.

Read more
14 delicious biotin-rich foods to add to your diet right now
Eat these great foods for healthier hair
Eggs on salad.

Hair loss is one of the biggest fear among all men affecting up to 70% of them. If you research hair loss, you will eventually come across the importance of biotin. Biotin is one of the B vitamins. Studies have shown biotin's ability to increase hair strength, thickness, and growth. Biotin also improves the health of nails and performs other critical functions in the body. For example, biotin plays a crucial role in specific metabolic and energy-generating pathways by helping break down carbs, proteins, and fats into usable energy. Biotin also helps regulate blood sugar, support healthy skin, and assist in cell signaling.
Biotin is a water-soluble vitamin, meaning that the body cannot store significant amounts, therefore it must be consumed regularly in the diet. The recommended daily intake (RDA) of biotin for most adults is 30-100 mcg. While supplements are always an option, it's always better to get you micronutrients through diet. Luckily, there are plenty of foods high in biotin. Consuming a variety of biotin-rich foods will help ensure adequate intake to support a healthy metabolism, energy generation, a full head of hair, and youthful skin. With that in mind, here are some of the foods high in biotin to help you maintain your luscious locks.

Egg yolks

Read more
These 15 foods are ruining your skin (and, in some cases, your overall health)
Foods and skin health: 15 foods to consume in moderation for a healthier look
a hamburger on a wooden table

When it comes to grooming, it’s easy to get hyper-focused on topical products that promise to fix every patch of dry skin, nix any fine lines, and make facial hair grow just the way we like it. What if we told you that outward appearance starts on the inside? More specifically, it begins with the food you consume. Though research on diet and skincare is still emerging, there is some that suggests certain types of food are bad for skin health. For example, we don’t have a definitive answer to the question, “Is acne caused by food?” However, science shows consuming some items can exacerbate the condition. 

Knowledge is power. When it comes to foods and skin health, understanding the current research can help you make informed choices at the grocery store and when you peer into your pantry. 

Read more