There are billions of people on the Earth, and of those people, there are millions who share a single quality. Finding something that connects all of these people seems like a difficult task, but in the end, we are all more alike than you think. So, what exactly combines so many people? Acne! While acne probably wasn’t the reason you were thinking of, it is, in fact, something that millions of people deal with in just the US alone. Around the world, there are countless people who join the ranks of those dealing with this skin condition.
The reason why acne is so prevalent is that it can occur at literally any age. Whereas some conditions occur only during a certain point in your life, acne can happen to anyone, anywhere. It doesn’t discriminate between the masses. That’s why some people break out only in their teenage years, but you may be breaking out in acne in your 60s. Though these cases are definitely not as common as teenage or young adult instances of acne, they do tend to happen from time to time.
Dealing with acne as a teenager is hard enough, but adult acne, especially going as far as 60-years old, has its own problems. Though the situation is slightly different, the solutions to your acne remain much the same. If you are breaking out in acne in your 60s, here are 10 reasons that might be behind that.
10You’re Losing Sleep
Getting enough sleep is an integral part of being healthy. Without it, we know that it’s difficult to feel refreshed and ready to take on your day. Although we know that we feel tired without sleep, there’s no concrete reason as to why we need sleep or why we dream at night. In fact, the whole sleep/dream realm of science is very perplexing, so there’s no solid answer to that.
While we don’t exactly know why need sleep, we do have many documented cases of the negative effects of not getting enough sleep. Your immune system takes a hit, you’re more likely to crave unhealthy foods and eat too much, and the chance of you getting diabetes, heart disease, and dementia all shoot up. Acne is another condition that could result from not getting enough sleep.
Acne forms when the body is in an imbalanced state. Sleep is necessary for giving your body a recharge every night and a chance to start fresh the next day. Without it, you’re putting your body under large amounts of stress. Stress is known to be the culprit behind several poor health conditions, not just acne. High levels of stress make it difficult for your body to deal with its regular functions, so you see the poor results of that on your face.
If you’ve been pulling all-nighters lately, this may be the reason behind your acne. Ensuring that you get at least seven hours of sleep is crucial for optimum health. Tuck into bed early and let yourself sleep in. You need it more than you think.
9You Need a Soothing Oil
If you feel like your sleep cycle is pretty good for a 60-year old, then it may be that you’re just not cleaning your face well. When it comes to cleaning, the best type of face wash or cleanser is the one that won’t dry your skin out. Certain products promise to keep your skin clean or remove all sorts of dirt and oil from your pores, but they end up doing their jobs too well. They remove the said dirt and oil, but they also remove an excessive amount of the natural oil your skin produces. This leaves your skin in a panic without enough moisture. The lack of moisture makes it all too easy for acne to form, as it makes the skin irritable.
If you’re not yet using a soothing oil to keep your skin supple and hydrated, you’re missing out. Different natural oils provide various benefits, but studies have shown that argan oil is beneficial in retaining moisture in post-menopausal women. If you find that your skin is getting too dry or very irritated easily, this may be a good time to invest in high-quality facial oil. During different studies, the women who used argan oil, both orally and topically, were found to have better water retentions in their skin and a more developed skin barrier.
Argan oil is just one example, but there are several other examples of soothing oil you can try. When used consistently, these oils can help stop breakouts and reduce your acne overall.
8Your Pores are Just Large
Everyone is born unique, and this truth is further highlighted when it comes to the skin. Although everyone has a general composition of similar skin cells and other components, the exact amount of each portion is different, resulting in various skin types and textures. Some people end up having big pores, while others have small ones, and the main factor in winning this skin lottery is how your genes are set up.
People worry about having large pores for different reasons. Large pores on your nose are more noticeable and end up being more of a cosmetic concern than a bacterial concern. But large pores in general are more likely to get acne. This is because your pores are open and have more of a chance to get dirt and oil inside. When you get a buildup of this debris in your pores, your skin tries to fight it off through infection, which is basically a pimple.
If you feel that you’re breaking out in acne in your 60s because of your pores, there are a few ways you can combat that. First, look into getting products that have glycosaminoglycan in them. This substance is useful for firming up pores and closing off their sides, resulting in a smaller appearance. If you have large pores on your nose, you can use nose strips to clean them out thoroughly and deeper than most cleansers. You can also try steaming your face, as this opens up pores and removes the surface layer of dirt, making them easier to clean.
7Your Water is Too Hot
Whether you’re 60 or six, we all use the same thing to clean our faces, and that’s water. Water is the main component in a skincare routine because without it there would be no using facewash or masks. Because water is so essential, the type of water you use can make a big impact on your skin. For starters, you obviously want to use clean water. Water that’s been scented or colored through cosmetic products isn’t as great to wash your face with because it adds in another layer of residue that could get left behind.
Besides using all natural water, it’s important to use cold water. While both hot and cold showers have their benefits, hot showers and face washes just make you feel good, but cold ones are actually better for you. Hot water opens up your pores, but is also harsh on your skin. The constant warm water removes too much oil and can even burn the skin with excessive use.
On the other hand, using cold water is good all around. Using cold water causes your pores to close and firm up around themselves. This means there’s a less likely chance of getting dirt and debris into your pores. Cold water even adds a bit of moisture when used in the right amount. So, if you’re a fan of using hot water to wash your face, think again. Having a bit of morning chills is worth it if it means that you won’t breakout anymore or at least reduce your acne.
6Your Skin is Too Dry
There are many factors that go into caring for your skin, and as you get older, you may find that you need more and more products to look as young as you like. Many people passed the age of 60 struggle with one skincare problem in particular, dry skin. Dry skin can be a sneaky way that acne comes into your life. If you don’t know that much about acne and its causes, it may be difficult to understand how a little dryness here and there could lead to a pimple. But it all lies in the skin’s ability to function well.
When you have dry skin, whether it’s hereditary or from treatments, like chemo, acne finds its ways into the picture through irritation. Dry skin doesn’t have the moisture it needs to get rid of dead skin cells properly. These accumulate over time and won’t go anywhere unless you give a good scrub. Even if you use a moisturizer, these skin cells prevent it from reaching the skin itself. So, they essentially block your skin from getting hydrated because of those dead skin cells.
Adding some hydration back through moisturizers is necessary to breathe life back into that skin. First, make sure to use a scrub to get rid of the excess dead skin. This removes the barrier and allows your moisturizer to work better. Then, add your moisturizer in small amounts over your face. Make sure to use moisturizers that match your skin type and dryness level to maximize effectiveness.
5You’re Not Drinking Enough Water
Another way that water plays an important role in your skincare routine is from the inside. Water is known to hydrate your body, and that works in the case of acne, as well. Not getting enough water is a common problem in elderly folks because their body naturally slows down its water retention functions. As you get older, your thirst perception decreases, meaning that you can’t really tell when you’re thirsty except in a few cases. This usually leads to not enough water in your system, resulting in your skin being dry from the inside. Even though you may use a top-notch moisturizer on the surface of your skin, it could still be bone dry on the inside, and this reflects on the outside.
Drinking more than enough water is not only important to reduce acne, but it also keeps your body functioning better overall. Many body functions depend on the water in your body to carry nutrients through. Not enough water means that those functions suffer, and as a result, you suffer.
Eight glasses of water a day may seem excessive, but it’s what your body needs to get the job done with water left over. Like many solutions to acne, drinking more water isn’t an overnight fix. You still need to practice other good habits and drink more consistently to see noticeable results. Set a reminder for yourself to keep drinking water, so you remember throughout the day and don’t have to drink it all at once.
4Your Anti-aging Products aren’t Working
By the time you’re in your 60s, you’ve likely tried a few anti-aging products in the hopes of looking younger. Anti-aging products contain a myriad of ingredients, all giving one benefit or another. Depending on the product, your cream may provide anti-inflammatory benefits, along with extra elasticity and hydrating aspects. In theory, all of these things are good for your skin and should help stop, if not slowly reverse, the signs of aging. But on this hunt for the fountain of youth, you may find that you’re breaking out in acne in your 60s, despite using a high-quality anti-aging cream.
What has likely happened is that the cream or product is too thick or irritating for your face. If it’s too thick, it doesn’t allow your skin to breathe and literally smothers it under the layers of moisture. While some moisture is necessary, too much moisture isn’t desirable either. On the other hand, your skin might just be irritated by the cream. Some people are sensitive to the ingredients in these products. The tricky part is that these irritations don’t show up after one or two uses. Oftentimes, it takes continuous use of an anti-aging product to make an impact on your skin, whether it’s an improvement or a step backwards.
If you’re breaking out in acne in your 60s, take a closer look at any anti-aging products you’re using. Let your doctor know that you’re concerned about having sensitive skin to some of the ingredients, and they can let you know what changes you can make.
3You’re Dealing with Hormonal Changes
You probably already know how big of a role hormones play in your life. The levels of hormones you have predict a lot about your physical appearance, but more so, of your inward appearance. After a woman experiences her period for the first time, her body gets into a routine of increasing and decreasing certain hormones, like estrogen, during her period. Although these changes can still cause an imbalance, your body has adapted to them more than a bigger change like menopause.
Menopause is a time that every woman has to go through that results in hormone depletion. When the estrogen hormone level goes low, it affects your brain, heart, bones, and your skin. These hormonal changes after menopause are normal, but some women deal with acne because of them. So, it’s kind of like the story of your teenage years all over again. You’re dealing with a hormonal change, but in a different way at a much older stage.
Hormonal acne has several effective treatments that you can try. These range from taking medicines to undergoing hormone therapy. The exact treatment you use and what’s going to be effective for you depends on a number of factors. How receptive your body is to slowly increasing or decreasing certain hormones plays a big role. Similarly, how receptive your body is to hormone therapy in its many forms, like creams, rings, and patches, also determines which is the best one for you. Talk to your doctor about the pros and cons of each treatment type before starting a plan.
2You’ve Spent A Lot of Time in the Sun
If you don’t like going out in the sun, you’ve likely spent a good portion of your life out and about. Spending time in the sun is not only a fun pastime, it’s actually very necessary. This helps your body produce vitamin D, a chemical that is otherwise not found in many foods. You can’t reach the recommended amount of vitamin D through just food alone. Getting some direct contact with sunlight through your skin is another way to add vitamin D.
However, having too much fun in the sun is very harmful for your skin and overall health as a result. Your skin can absorb only so much vitamin D before it starts to burn from the harmful UV light of the sun. Even if you don’t get completely sunburned, you still put your skin back a few notches when you get close to it. When your skin turns red and irritated from prolonged sun exposure, it starts to break down and can’t repair itself fast enough. The new skin cells can’t form in time before your skin gets damaged again. This irritation makes it harder for your skin to clear out dirt, meaning you’re more prone to acne.
Any time more than 30 minutes of direct sunlight is dangerous and can lead to acne and even more serious conditions, like skin cancer. Avoid sun damage by wearing sunscreen with a high SPF level, and keep your body covered as much as possible while out.
1You’re Experiencing a Lot of Stress
There’s no specific time in your life where you’re stress-free. People hope to be worry-free by the time they retire so they can spend their days spending time on more enjoyable things. However, that’s not the case for many people, if anyone at all. Getting older brings its own worries, and although many people experience less stress as they get older, sudden changes can trigger high levels of stress and worry all at once.
This type of stress is harmful to the health of young people, talk less about adults over the age of 60. When you experience high amounts of stress, you’re essentially changing the hormonal balance in your body. Your stress triggers the production of cortisol, and eventually, too much stress and worrying leads to too much cortisol production. This changes the dynamic of your bloodstream and causes acne for the same reason that acne occurs in teenage years.
Reducing the amount of stress you have varies across lifestyles and personal interests. Some people find exercise to be relaxing and the perfect way to destress. For others, spending time in solitude writing or listening to music is what they need to take a breather from the stress of life. Avoid activities that are exciting, but also stressful, like traveling. It’s great to see different places around the world, but dealing with the stress of travelling sometimes overpowers the actual joy from the trip. Make time for yourself because it’s more than just relaxing, it’s essential to your health.
Conclusion
Acne is something that can occur at any time in your life. It may start off in your teenage years and continue on into adulthood, or you may not even experience it at all until you’re breaking out in acne in your 60s. Whatever the time period or duration of your acne is, it’s likely stressful for you regardless. The good news is that there are many easily accessible treatments for acne.
The main things you have to remember when it comes to taking care of your acne is that you need to heal it with a two toned approach. You may be using a great topical cream, but your results would be much better if you had a good diet and exercise regularly. Similarly, you may have a good lifestyle, but still, break out into acne because you don’t use the right cream. Finally, you may be doing everything right, but if you don’t do it for long enough, you’re not going to see results. All of these factors are important, and finding that sweet balance is the only way to see lasting results.
Probably the most important part of treating your acne is to remain optimistic. If you stop doing your treatment because you’ve lost hope or aren’t seeing results, you won’t see any progress at all. Remember, that millions of people are struggling with the same condition as you. Millions of people have found a successful treatment for their acne, and you can too!
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