Treating Adult Acne Without an Elaborate Skincare Routine

Puberty is a nightmare for so many reasons, not least of which is the acne that inevitably comes with it. We all look forward to the day when our acne finally disappears, but what if it comes back in adulthood? Or worse, what if it never leaves? Some studies show that over 40 percent of men and women between the ages of 20 and 40 suffer from persistent acne.

It seems like every day, some new-fangled, multi-step skincare regimen comes onto the market, to the point where it is no easy task trying to figure out which products actually work, and which of them are just a waste of time. It's especially difficult for men like me, who have never put much thought into a skincare routine. Even calling it a "skincare routine" is a little frightening to me, I have to admit.

Thankfully, it is absolutely possible to take care of your adult onset acne with a minimal amount of products. You just have to know where to look. Whether you're experiencing a resurgence in acne, or you've been dealing with flare-ups since high school, it's time to suppress that pesky acne, once and for all.

Don’t be frightened

The first thing I want to get across to you is that you don't have any reason to be afraid of adult acne, because it's not anything you haven't seen before. We don't call it "adult acne" because it's some sort of advanced, drug-resistant “franken-acne.” We just call it that because, well, it's acne that you get as an adult. In other words, if you were among the 80 percent of the population who experienced acne as an adolescent, you've already conquered this beast once.

On top of this, you have some distinct advantages today over your past self when it comes to combating acne. For one, you are at least slightly more disciplined now than you were as a teenager (in my case, very slightly). There is also a vastly improved array of products designed specifically to combat acne and other blemishes.

Of course, the problem is that these improved products are hidden amongst hundreds of low-quality treatments and ineffective fads. It's up to us to sort through them to find the right stuff, and in order to do that, we have to understand what causes acne in the first place.

The why

The basic process of acne development goes like this. An excess of oil on the skin's surface clogs up the openings of your hair follicles. This creates an environment where certain bad bacteria can thrive, and these bacteria create blackheads and whiteheads: in other words, your basic pimples and zits. Further consequences of this process can be increased pressure buildup, causing inflammation.

In most young adults, changing hormone levels are what cause our bodies to produce this excess oil — this is why acne is so directly linked with puberty and adolescence.

However, various forms of medication — including steroids and contraceptives — can also incite acne. What this really comes down to is that pretty much anyone at any age can develop acne. You don't have any reason to feel embarrassed about acne, but you do have the means to treat it.

The right tools for the job

The first line of defense against acne is keeping your face and other affected areas as clean as possible. But, really, if you already have acne, your standard bar of soap isn't going to get rid of it on its own. If you want to really curb your adult acne, you're going to need some specialized — and maybe even prescription-level — products.

The best acne treatments include a variety of vitamins to promote healthy skin, antibiotics to kill off bacteria, retinoids, such as tretinoin, to regulate cell growth and clear your pores. That's just a basic representation of the sort of materials needed to effectively treat your acne, so it's easy to see how one can easily get trapped into using several different products on a daily basis.

The best routine

At this point, I'm sure you're feeling a little overwhelmed. This many products can easily add up to an overly-elaborate skincare routine requiring hours in front of your bathroom mirror, and who knows how much money to get all the necessary materials.

On top of this, the most effective acne-treating chemical compounds, like retinoids, are only available with a prescription. So, you'd also have to factor in the time and money cost of multiple trips to the dermatologist.

I'm sure I'm not the only 20-something guy who has never put more thought into his skincare routine than picking out the best smelling body wash. If you are like me, I'm sure the thought of putting so much effort into a skincare routine is making you sick to your stomach.

If you would rather head to a one-stop shop than try to creative a complex routine on your own, brands like hims have you covered with a simple but comprehensive online prescription solution.

How it works

If you're a man wondering how to treat your adult acne without an overly complex skincare routine, hims has created an extremely effective acne treatment package just for you. You could seek out individual products on your own, but between all the research, the doctor visits and the sheer quantity of products you'd have to use, is the headache really worth it?

I've never found a quicker or easier way to get comprehensive acne treatment than through the hims brand. Their Complete Acne Treatment Set consists of antibiotics, clindamycin, Vitamin B3, tretinoin and more: everything you need to treat acne and get healthier looking skin. And the best part? They've consolidated all of this into just three products: an AM acne treatment cream, a PM acne treatment cream and hims' Everyday Moisturizer.

This level of treatment requires a prescription, but another advantage of using hims is that they've made it so you never have to step inside a dermatologist’s office.

Through their online interface, you can chat with licensed and qualified physicians, get your prescription and order your treatment package subscription — all through their website. As someone who chronically avoids doctors’ offices, this is a lifesaver for me.

Why should I moisturize?

Speaking as a man myself, I can commiserate with all the men who hate the idea of putting lotion on their face every day. But, the fact of the matter is that it's the best and easiest way to keep your skin looking bright and healthy. And it really is so much easier than you think. It takes no time at all to apply moisturizer to your face, and then you're done.

I highly recommend using a moisturizer daily regardless of whether you're currently struggling with acne. You will really be amazed at the noticeable difference it will make in the quality of your skin.

If you are in the midst of a fight with acne, it's really a necessity for you to use a good moisturizer alongside whatever you're using for treatment. This is why I love hims's Complete Acne Set, because it comes with the perfect moisturizer to pair with hims’ prescription acne treatment creams.

The reason this combination works is that any cream worth using contains chemicals that are tough on acne-causing bacteria. A high-quality moisturizer will assist the acne cream in reducing inflammation and smoothing acne scars. By using the right moisturizer in tandem with your acne medication, you're setting yourself up for skin that is not only acne-free, but is softer and healthier than ever before.