What is late acne?
Blackheads, pimples and acne commonly appear during puberty. They are associated with an oily complexion and enlarged pores in the T-zone. However, acne is not just a problem in teenagers. Many adults over 40, who sometimes barely had pimples as teenagers, suffer from a form of acne called late acne (Latin: acne tarda) or adult acne.
Impure skin does not necessarily have to be greasy. Especially dry skin areas with a weakened skin barrier are an ideal breeding ground for blackheads and pimples. The signs of late acne with constant redness, pimples, enlarged pores, but also pigment spots and reduced skin tension are particularly often visible on the cheeks, neck and chin area.
According to a scientific survey, about 26% of all women over 40 are affected by this form of acne. Men, on the other hand, suffer significantly less often from late acne (Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 2008).
The challenge with late acne is not only to successfully combat the decreasing skin tension and the first wrinkles, but also the constant inflammation, redness and stubborn pimple marks on the skin.
Reasons why you can still get pimples and pustules at 40
Hormonal changes
After years of taking the pill, more and more women are deciding to stop using this common form of contraception. During the hormonal change, they often suffer from impure skin, blackheads and pimples. After stopping the pill, the before manipulated hormone level gets out of balance. The androgens occurring alongside the female hormones, especially testosterone, increasingly come to the fore. The sebaceous glands produce more sebum that can build up. Pimple-causing bacteria accumulate in the clogged sebum glands, so that inflammatory blackheads (comedones) have ideal growth conditions. It usually requires a lot of patience until hormonally-related acne disappears after stopping the pill.
Hormone fluctuations and a temporary relative excess of male hormones can also occur during the menopause, when the natural female estrogen level decreases with age. In the menopause, some women are therefore again more affected by blackheads, stubborn pimples and acne.
Inappropriate skin care
The wrong skin care can cause serious problems:
- Comedogenic ingredients in cosmetics promote the formation of pimples and acne. These include, for example, lanolin, paraffin or cocoa butter.
- Aggressive washing gels, peelings and care products with unnecessary additives such as emulsifiers or alcohol weaken the natural skin barrier. They promote an unbalaced colonization with dermal microorganisms causing blemishes and blackheads.
Unbalanced diet
Unhealthy eating habits can also trigger pimples:
- Too much sugar – rapidly raises your blood sugar levels, affects the gut system, promotes breakouts and pimples;
- Baked goods made from white wheat flour and ready meals - contain too little fiber, hidden additives and hardly any micronutrients;
- too much milk and dairy products – upset your hormone balance, weaken your immune system;
- too much animal lipids (arachidonic acid) and industrially hardened vegetable lipids - promote chronic, so-called silent inflammations, such as those found in acne, rosacea, neurodermatitis or psoriasis.
Other factors for the development of late acne
Genetic predisposition, long-term use of certain medications, air pollution in big cities or the warm, humid climate under a corona mask can also lead to acne and promote pimple growth.
Mental stress and a chronic lack of sleep put a strain on your entire organism. A weakened immune system tends to chronic inflammation, also affecting your complexion. When you are stressed, the hormones cortisol and adrenaline are released in excess. They stimulate the activity of the sebaceous glands promoting so-called stress pimples. These are red pustules, small nodules, pimples and acne, often associated with very dry skin.
Your individual lifestyle also has an impact on the complexion. Nicotine and alcohol interfere with your body's detoxification process. They are potentially responsible for enlarged pores, pimples and skin imperfections, as well as for premature skin aging.
The right skin care routine for signs of late acne
The right skin care is crucial for an even complexion. It helps rebalance your skin, smoothes lines and wrinkles and maintains a youthful glow. Remember, you should never pop pimples yourself. These can become inflamed far too quickly, further aggravating your skin and leaving scars.
Step 1: Clarifying Facial Cleanser
Cleanse your skin in the morning and evening without surfactants with the Grape Seed Cleansing Cream M. The mattifying cleanser for sensitive combination sskin frees your skin from dirt, dust and excess sebum.
Step 2: Face Toner
After cleansing, spritz your skin with anti-inflammatory Magnolia Toner Sensitive. Magnolia bark counteracts skin inflammation accelerating the aging process (inflamm-aging). At the same time, hyaluronic acid provides deep moisture and smoothes the skin.
Step 3: Face Serum
The Anti-Pollution Serum M with 4% niacinamide and willow bark extract with natural salicylic acid ensures a gentle peeling effect. It accelerates the skin's renewal process. The combination of hyaluronic acid and phosphatidylcholine provides long-lasting moisture and strengthens the skin's protective barrier.
Step 4: Day Cream
The Grape Seed Day Cream M has proven itself against impurities and pimples on mature skin. The smoothing day cream without emulsifiers mattifies the skin, counteracts impurities and enlarged pores.
Step 5: Balancing Facial Oil
The anti-inflammatory Balancing Face Oil M soothes and heals problematic, damaged skin. The antibacterial face oil can be applied alone instead of a face cream or using the layering method, over the day or night cream.
Step 6: Facial Oil Serum with Plant-based Sunscreen
The Protective Sunshine Day Oil M with a plant-based sunscreen is based on karanja oil and antioxidants absorbing harmful UV and IR radiation - completely without whitening effect or nanoparticles.
These products for day and night care are included in our Beauty Routine Set for Sensitive Combination Skin.
