Adult Acne.

Dear Sarah,

After enjoying virtually perfect skin in my late teens and early twenties (women at parties would actually stop me to comment on it!) I now have depressingly spotty skin.

I'm nearly 30 and this just shouldn't be happening. It seems totally random - not necessarily related to the time of the month for example.

I eat fairly well, my diet's not packed with goodness but neither do I drink loads or eat chocolate.

The spots will appear anywhere, on my cheeks, chin, around my eyebrows, at the top of my nose.

It's a mix of blackheads and proper full-on pimples. They can leave unsightly red marks afterwards.

All in all, it's depressing. I have to go to meetings with spots and I feel like a 14-year-old.

Katherine

Dear Katherine,

Adult acne is massively on the increase so you’re not alone.

In many instances it is due to hormone imbalance which is attributed to (among other things) prolonged use of the contraceptive pill and rise of Xeno-oestregens – ‘foreign’ oestregens.

These are found in chemical preservatives such as Parabens and Phenoxyethanol which are commonly used in beauty products and every-day toiletries (even ‘organic’ ones!).

Here are some tips to help decongest and rebalance your skin the natural way:

• Lightly exfoliate weekly and follow with a facial steam. You can do this at home with a towel and bowl of hot water. Add a drop of lavender oil to help draw out impurities. Finish with a splash of cold water to close the pores.
  
• Simplify your skincare regime. When you have a break-out it’s tempting to throw everything and the kitchen sink at it. This can overload the skin and result in further break-outs as your skin struggles to adjust to different moisture levels and ingredients. Less is more!
  
• Drink plenty of water to rehydrate the skin. Hot water and a slice of lemon will detox and decongest your complexion. Dandelion tea is also a great skin purifier and is thought to improve acne scars.
  
• Diet is key. Apricots, avocadoes and mangoes are all great skin foods for combating acne. Reduce dairy intake and avoid foods high in refined sugars.
  
• Catch-up on some shut-eye. Sleep boosts the immune system and is the time your skin gets to regenerate.
• Leave your skin to breathe at night. In the morning, moisturise with our Geranium & Thistle Cream. Geranium is brilliant at calming and rebalancing the skin while Thistle oil helps to clear congestion and reduce pore size.
  
• Lavender essential oil is good to apply directly on spots. It's better than chemical spot creams which dry out the skin and is also kinder on the skin than tea tree oil. Apply with a cotton bud directly on to the spot twice a day.
  
• Avoid foaming face washes as these contain chemical detergents (e.g. sodium lauryl sulphate) which strip away your natural oils and result in excess sebum production and clogged pores.
  
• Avoid moisturisers containing beeswax. While a great natural ingredient it is solid at room temperature so can block the pores and cause spots.

**All content provided is for general information only. It should not be treated as a substitute for medical advice from your doctor or other health care professional.