In the clinic, I often meet people who have struggled with adult acne for a long time. Many say they thought it would naturally calm down after adolescence, but inflammation keeps recurring on the jawline, cheeks, and forehead, leaving marks and affecting their confidence. Acne is a Skin problem that appears on the surface, but looking at lifestyle rhythm and the body’s balance together may help reduce Aggravating Factors.
Adult acne is not viewed as having only one cause
Acne is a Skin condition in which inflammation develops around the hair follicles and sebaceous glands. Sebum production, retained keratin, bacterial growth, and inflammatory responses all play a role, and it can easily recur when overwork, lack of sleep, stress, menstrual cycles, and digestive status are added.
In Korean medicine care, we do not look only at facial inflammation in isolation. We check heat sensations, sweating, stool condition, eating habits, fatigue level, and constitutional characteristics together. Even when acne looks similar, the management direction may differ for someone with bloating, someone with prominent facial heat, or someone whose acne clearly worsens before menstruation.
More important than extraction is not increasing inflammation
Comedones or pustules that have already appeared may sometimes need appropriate care. However, squeezing them with your hands or touching them with a needle at home increases the risk of spreading infection or leaving scars. If red, painful inflammation keeps recurring, it is better to check the Skin condition and manage it in a safe way.
For those who wear masks often, friction and moisture can increase trouble on the jawline and cheeks. If the inside of the mask becomes damp, replace it, and after washing your face, gently dry any remaining moisture on the Skin. When stinging or dryness is severe, reducing irritation comes first rather than layering multiple functional products.
A salad-only diet can also burden the Skin
Some people eat a lot of vegetables only, thinking of their Skin. However, if protein and necessary nutrients become insufficient, recovery may decline and fatigue can build up. For those who feel cold in the stomach or have weak Digestion, eating a lot of raw vegetables may worsen bloating and make the Skin condition more unstable.
- Rather than insisting only on raw vegetables, include cooked vegetables as well.
- Include an appropriate amount of protein at each meal, such as eggs, fish, tofu, or lean meat.
- Sugary snacks, late-night meals, and excessive alcohol can be factors that worsen inflammation, so it is better to reduce them.
- If constipation or diarrhea recurs, it is also a good idea to check intestinal health.
We recommend Consultation in these cases
- When acne recurs for more than 3 months or gradually becomes deeper and more painful
- When post-inflammatory pigmentation or depressed scars begin to remain
- When worsening is clear around menstruation, after stress, or after eating certain foods
- When you are taking prescribed medication but management is difficult due to dryness, stomach discomfort, or other issues
Please do not stop medications you are taking or topical medicines on your own, and let us know about them during your visit. If high fever, swelling and pain that rapidly spread across the face, or severe inflammation around the eyes occurs, we recommend seeking medical care without delay.
Managing chronic acne is not limited to what to apply. Carefully addressing inflammation on the Skin surface while also organizing diet, sleep, stress, digestive status, and constitution may help reduce the degree to which the Skin fluctuates. Rather than forceful extraction or an extreme diet, steady management that suits your body comes first.