Sometimes I think I’ve shared a post on here when I’ve actually just written it in my head.
Or maybe it was all just a dream? Who knows…But what I do know is that after almost 6 years of dealing with adult acne, I’ve finally figured out what works for my body.
Now I just want to preface this post by reminding you that this is what worked for me. It may not work for you. How do I know this? Because if someone has written anything about clearing adult acne then there is a 99% chance that I’ve read it. And of this advice I’ve only taken 3 things away. The 3 things that actually cleared my acne. The rest of it was all just a waste of time and money….for me.
So take this all in with a grain of salt but also just remember that experimentation is totally fine but if it’s not working for your body, let.it.go.
Another quick thing to discuss – I’m okay with getting a zit here and there. I have zero expectation of perfect skin. But years of chronic acne definitely haunted me and knocked my confidence so if you’re struggling, I get it. That being said, no one has perfect skin so release any expectations of a perfectly clear canvas.
Okay let’s discuss…
THE THREE THINGS THAT CLEARED MY ACNE
1. Ditching Coffee
I know, this one is SO sad. And trust me, I resisted it for a long time. I started experimenting with giving up coffee 3 years ago and noticed that every time I did my skin would improve. At this point I have tried giving up just about everything to clear up my skin, but none of it ever made a difference. This includes dairy, gluten and sugar. People go on about how each of these things (especially dairy) can contribute to acne. This has NEVER been the case for me and thank god because your girl loves cheese.
Coffee on the other hand – no bueno. Funny enough, I can still drink tea so I usually start my day with a matcha or cup of tea. So what’s the deal with coffee? So the verdict is still out as to whether coffee itself contributes to acne, but here’s what coffee does do. Studies have found that caffeine can increase levels of the stress hormone, cortisol. As a side effect, cortisol can lead to an increase in oil production in our skin leading to breakouts. There is generally about half the amount of caffeine in tea than in coffee so decreasing your coffee consumption can help keep your cortisol levels in a healthy range.
I generally have no moderation abilities with coffee. While I was typically only drinking 1-2 cups a day, it definitely stimulated me pretty intensely and it simply wasn’t good for my hormone balance. That being said, I do still occasionally get a decaf latte very infrequently and that seems to be okay for me.
