What to do if your skin is in a second youth?

My skin definitely had some hiccups in high school, but I got through it reasonably well, with a huge period-related pimple now and then. I dove into bed with makeup after a night of partying, smoked my worries away, and still wasn't excessively punished. Until now, because it seems like my skin is in a second puberty to get back at me. What to do? Our skin expert Annelijn van Ierland from Skin Kliniek  to the rescue.

Annelijn, how can this be?

“It happens more often that around your thirties you still experience some acne. This occurs more in women than in men and is usually related to hormones. You produce extra sebum, which is caused by an excess of androgens, leading to a hormonal imbalance in women. The imbalance is a trigger for acne. It can be related to a pregnancy that changes your hormonal balance, stopping a pill or IUD, but women in menopause sometimes experience it too. Or you work very hard or sleep less as a young mother; these are all factors that can contribute.”

What can you do at home?

“Diet has a significant impact on your skin. Especially sugars, carbohydrates, and dairy products can exacerbate it, leading to an unsettled skin. Additionally, it's important to pay attention to your skincare routine, which you need to keep very steady. If your daily rhythm is good and you live as healthily as possible, this helps. Stress works against the condition of the skin, as does the use of the wrong cosmetics. Alcohol dries out your skin, causing an overreaction and leading to more sebum production.”

And which skin treatment works?

“A peel with salicylic acid added dissolves dead skin cells but also penetrates deeper into the skin. This is necessary because accumulated dead skin cells cause pores to become clogged, leading to inflammation and the formation of a pimple. A peel solves this problem. Salicylic acid also has anti-inflammatory properties. If you suffer from larger inflammations, you can complement this with a laser treatment. The ND:Yag laser really targets the sebaceous glands. In the pore, a bacterium multiplies, causing a pimple to form. The laser addresses that bacterium and dissolves it. Furthermore, a laser has the positive side effect of improving the overall condition of your skin. Think of reducing skin aging and superficial scars. You could get an exfoliant with salicylic acid and 5 percent benzoyl peroxide at the pharmacy; this can be done without a prescription. It is an antibacterial agent, but be careful as it can have a bleaching effect on your clothes. What you do need a prescription for is the vitamin A cream, which also works well for unsettled skin.”