The Breakout

So this is what I’ve been feeling all week long… Bummed out like someone walking around with a bag over her head. Why you ask? Because a week ago on Friday, I broke out with 4 monstrous zits on my face. Every day since then, they’ve invited their friends and family to come out and play. I woke up with 8 on Saturday, then 4 more appeared on Sunday, until finally I counted 15 red throbbing zits on my face on Monday morning. All of which were visible on my T-zone.

No amount of makeup could cover them because they’re huge and three dimensional. They cast their own shadows and have their own area codes. I was so depressed I stayed tucked away at home like a hermit.

I can’t remember the last time I broke out like this. I’m 26 years old and well over the awkward acne years. Even as a kid I had very little acne issues. My face was clear for the most part and every once in a while, I had the occasional one or two pimples that went away fairly quickly. I’m not stressed either! So why is this happening to me?????

According to Acne.org, adult acne affects 25% of all adult men and 50% of adult women at some time in our adult lives. Dermatologists are seeing more adult acne than in previous decades. Some can still get acne in their forties and fifties. So when do you stop getting zits? The answer is never!

Although the causes of adult acne are unknown, possible causes include stress, cosmetics, hormones, and an increase of resistant bacteria. Some things that can make acne worse is leaning on or rubbing the skin, squeezing or picking at pimples, and hard scrubbing of the skin.

So what have I been doing to keep my breakout in check?

Neosporin. The active ingredients and powerful antibiotics in Neosporin are far more effective than benzoyl peroxide. Although applying this topical gel can be greasy and uncomfortable, the oil base helps from drying out your skin. It speeds up the healing process and prevents scarring.

I’ve also been using the minimal amount of makeup and coverup; most days I opt for no makeup and stay home like a hermit. Also, use a light facial scrub to clean your pores and wash away dead skin cells. Finish with a clean face cloth and warm water.

Its been almost a week after the breakout and I noticed over half of the acne that appeared on my face shrank notably and the redness has lightened considerably. I intend to keep using Neosporin in the morning and before I go to sleep.

Getting adult acne is common and there is nothing you can do about it. It can be very depressing. It’s definitely put a slump in my confidence level. But nothing can be done to make acne magically disappear so learn to take care of your skin and get the right treatment. Like everything else, healing takes time.

To read more about acne, check out Acne.org.