It’s a big day for me tomorrow, I’m turning 30! And luckily I don’t feel too old just yet, but I do kind of feel too old for acne.
I remember having this intense frustration when my skin was bad in my late twenties about my age and how a “normal” late twenties something should not have a severe acne condition like I had. I guess over time we’ve just learned to associate acne with teenagers so it’s become one of those things that doesn’t seem to fit with those of us that are a little (or a lot) older. But when you really think about what acne is, it’s perfectly normal for it to happen to anyone of any age.
Acne can of course be induced by fluctuating hormones which is why a large majority of teenagers get it. But it can also be just physical and emotional toxins coming out of the body which makes it so easy for any of us at any age to experience it.
It’s also so incredibly common for adults between the ages of 20 and 50 to “all of a sudden” break out with acne of any severity after something big has happened in their lives. From the years of writing this blog and talking to people with acne, the two most common big things to lead to an acne condition are relationship breakups and moving to a new city or country.
I realize this article may all seem like old news because I have blogged about this stuff a lot before, but I’ve been talking to a few women inside my coaching program who are feeling somewhat down about their age and their acne condition and feeling as though they’re too old for this problem. So I wanted to let ALL of us out there who are over 25 and perhaps feeling a bit like an odd one out with acne, that it is definitely not abnormal and there are in fact a lot of us out there who are experiencing the problem too.
In fact, I’m quite sure that there would be a lot more women over the age of 25 with acne if it weren’t for the high use of the contraceptive pill. The pill which is just so commonly used also often does a great job at temporarily keeping the skin clear. I’ve seen this time and time again with friends who’ve gone off the pill and experienced a breakout 3-5 months down the track.
So please do not feel that you’re too old for acne. Of course none of us want it at any age, but it should not be considered a “teenage” problem. Think of your acne as what it is – just your body releasing toxic stuff. Which you know what, is kind of a great thing because it means your body is doing an awesome job at getting those toxins out because we don’t want them inside out body!
But I still feel so embarrassed about my skin …
Yeah, we all do. Embarrassment about our skin condition is a really tough emotion to avoid. There is a reason why I’ve become really good at applying mineral makeup – months of covering up spots and scars.
Unfortunately we can’t change how others see us or how others feel about us, but we CAN change how we feel about ourselves. So stop resisting it and let yourself really feel that emotion. REALLY feel it. Then do something that makes you feel absolutely amazingly beautiful. It sounds quite superficial but I used to curl my hair, put makeup on and wear a pretty dress. It just always made me feel really beautiful and good about myself even though I had acne on my face. I took the focus of my mind off my skin and instead celebrated the feminine goddess that I am and it actually really did work at making me feel more confident and less embrassed.
If you’re a 30 or 40 something then I’d love to hear from you. Hey, by tomorrow I’ll be a 30 something too! So let us know what your experiences are with your condition, where your emotions are at and what has or hasn’t worked for you.
19 responses ↓
I just found your sight today and feel once again inspired. thank you.
Happy Birthday Fran
Fran, when you turn 30 I’m sure you will feel like 20 inside, like a lot of women do
You look like you are in your mid-20’s BTW!
When I tell friends+family that I am fed up with my acne, they are sympathetic. Especially as my mother’s brother and sister both suffered from it far worse than me – in their 20’s.
My husband has been extremely supportive as well. He had to change our cooking habits after I have been following your advice
He has noticed a huge difference in my skin health.
Support from family and friends really helps even if you think the acne is not clearing at all.
Happy Birthday Fran!
I’m mid-20 and never felt I’m too old for acne.
It’s great that my skin can tell me something is wrong in my body:)
I seriously feel like that too but I realise that our lifestyles are so fast paced and stressed that we can get acne at any age.
lots of love, Frances
))))
Happy Birthday Fran !!!! Today is November the 8th….heres your birthday astrology maybe it will or will not resonate with you. Tell Me what you think:
Scorpio Information for November 8 individuals:
You should embrace: Destiny, spiritual love, one’s true love.
November 8 Scorpios walk their own path in life, and, even if it is difficult, they usually resist help. They give advice rather than take it. They see life on a broad, episodic scale. They have a quirky vision that may not accord strictly with reality. If they are bold enough to divulge that vision, they can be handsomely rewarded.
Friends and Lovers
These individuals are secretive and have a hard time allowing other people to be intimate in their lives. They combine sultry sexuality with romantic spirit. They fall in love deeply, and, if something goes wrong, they are likely to suffer great emotional pain.
Career and Finances
November 8 individuals treat their profession with great seriousness. Whatever they do for a living, they put all their efforts toward success. They prefer to work behind the scenes. They constantly search for bargains, unwilling to part with money unless it is for necessities or infrequent frivolous pleasures.
Dreams and Goals
November 8 men and women are determined to achieve success on their own, or not at all. They refuse to take any shortcuts toward their goals, feeling they should succeed by hard work and talent and no other way. They have amazing patience and can withstand delays and disappointments like few other people.
So thats it….Once again Happy Birthday!!!
Happy Birthday Fran!
I am 30 and wish I could just ‘age’ my way out of acne
… what I do notice in treating my skin is this: my skin has gotten drier than it was in my 20s, so many traditional acne products that essentially dry pimples out REALLY wreak havoc on my skin causing irritation and severe dryness. I find using soothing treatments that are meant to improve overall skin health(not just treat acne) have given me the best results… a great example is Bee Yummy.
The contraceptive pill is a little like a double edge sword – in that it can mask the acne problem which ends up giving you “better” skin, however on the flip side some women suffer other side-effects when using the pill.
Acne can come and go, but you you maintain a good skin care regime hopefully the times when acne appears won’t be for too long.
P.S. Happy Birthday – what do they say “30 is the new 20″
I am 32 and I feel embarrassed about my skin. I do not know what to do anymore. I’ve tried using organic products from Australia. I’ve tried using clay masks, spending a lot of money at the derma, using facial steam, exfoliating, not picking my face, not eating dairy. what do I do? The only time my face completely cleared was when I took Roaccutane for 2 years in my 20s but I don’t want to take that again, Help!
I love what vivienne said….
I’m mid-20 and never felt I’m too old for acne.
It’s great that my skin can tell me something is wrong in my body:)
I am too and I feel like breaking out now has given me a whole new perspective on slowing down and taking care of myself physically, emotionally and spiritually.
I feel like finding this website has really been an act of serendipity and I am so happy that other open minded individuals are here and on this journey to =)
On another note I am from a little town in Canada called Windsor Ontario and a new film that some fellow Windsorites made is coming out. It is all about the mind body connection and its realtion to health and wellness. The trailer looks AWESOME! Check it out at http://www.voyagetobetterment.com/
It is coming out on thursday and I am uber excited to see it…
Windsor has been referred to as the “ass” of Canada and the worst place to live (on the Steven Colbert Report) and is going through some really tough times with our reliance on jobs created by the automotive industry. So this is pretty cool for us!
Spread some love =)
Happy 30th Birthday Fran!!!
Fran, you give me hope and support and a forum for a healthy community – that makes you an incredibly special person. Happy Birthday, my scorpion sister! (Turned 28 on Nov. 5)
Happy Birthday Fran, you look so cute, and age doesn’t matter. You really look so beautiful. Im 24 already and Im still having trouble with my skin and you know what I love to have acne because is having acne is not a bad thing. We often see the negetive side of things. We always think about the stuff that we dont posses. I see acne as a process that my body has to do to free toxins.
He loves me so much that he always throws the junk out instead of leaving it inside of me. So thank you buddy. LOL.
But you look fabuolous!
Thank you everyone for your kind words and birthday wishes!!! xxoo
Angela- Have you gone through the 10 free videos?
Happy belated birthday Fran! Gosh, I know what you mean about sometimes feeling too old for acne and if you could just outgrow it already. I’m having another one of those funk, where the breakouts come unexpectedly and just as they subside new ones come out. It’s frustrating and does effect my esteem to a certain level, so what you said about doing something that makes me feel amazingly beautiful… that’s perhaps the BEST advice anyone can give me right now. Thank you
Hi!
Happy Birthday Fran!
I was wondering what you did about treating scars?
Hi Fran, I really identify with you on this topic. I am 36 and still struggle daily with acne and super-oily skin. I sometimes wish for the drier skin that others my age complain about.
Anyway, I just want to thank you for focusing on the deeper causes of acne, such as diet and even the emotional connection. Now I can understand that, OK, I went on vacation and consumed much more sugar and dairy than I would usually, and that is why my skin is reacting with a new crop of cysts and other zits. Or, that my stress and low self-esteem can only make the problem worse.
I’d like to mention one thing we can look forward to as oily-prone acne sufferers – fewer wrinkles later! My mom had “bad skin” when she was younger, but as she aged, she always looked very youthful. I got carded buying a lottery ticket the other day, and the cashier looked surprised to learn I was twice the age required!
Finally, I just wanted to say I tried the Bee Yummy Skin Food after reading about it on your blog, and I LOVE it. It’s the best moisturizer I’ve ever tried, and I can almost feel it healing my skin when I apply it. I think next I will try the Hemp Hemp Hooray cleanser.
Thanks, and happy 30th!
Angela, I’m your age and right where you are. It’s mostly menstrually related with my acne, but after a wicked workout I have sweatpimples (the red ugly bumps) all along my workout bra line on my bag. Yuck. If I catch myself touching my face at work a lot (propping my chin on my hand) the next day I have chin acne.
I’m vegetarian, eat lots of raw food, no packaged crap and not a lot of sugar. Still nothing. I’m tring to get away from chemical cleansers. I used to be on the pill. A little better, but oh those side effects! So I’m off it now. I’m trying the organic coconut oil cleansing but am super-impatient and can’t wean myself comletely off of proactiv solution…and what a breakout with coconut…
I am thinking of seeing a dermatologist (at 32!!!! Eek!)
I’m not giving up though. ;p
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