Blemishes in Adults

Still experiencing blemishes even after your teenage years?

Let’s look at the causes and how we can help.

What causes blemishes?

While blemishes are more prevalent in teenagers, they do affect adults too. Whether you have a big presentation at work, a date, a job interview or anything else, no-one wants blemishes to spoil your important day – or any other day. That’s why we created Papulex™.

A great many factors may cause your skin to produce an excess of sebum, which can clog your pores. Clogged pores are susceptible to colonisation by bacteria – which leads to blemishes.

Blemish-causing factors include:

Genetics: You may be genetically more likely to get blemishes. If those in your family are susceptible to it, even more distant relatives such as cousins, aunts or uncles. 1
Stress: Researchers have discovered a link between stress and blemishes. When we are stressed, our bodies release hormones called androgens that can stimulate the skin’s oil glands and hair follicles, leading to excess oil and thus blemishes.2,3
Diet: Many people believe that excessive white flour products, sweets, chocolate, dairy, and fast food may contribute to blemishes. That said, experts haven’t come to any definitive conclusions. You could however try keeping a food diary to see if you notice a pattern of blemishes after eating certain foods, which you could then identify as potential triggers.1
Environmental factors such as pollution and dust, irritants in the air and even extreme weather can trigger hormone changes, weakened immunity or skin irritation which can lead to blemishes.1
Irritation from skin contact: A lot of factors can cause irritation, raising the risk of blemishes. These include harsh cleaning products, razors on dry skin and repeatedly touching your face.1
Hair and skin products: Oil-based hair and skin products can potentially trigger blemishes.1,3
Side effects of medication: Blemishes can be a side effect of some medicines, if you suspect this is the case, please talk to your doctor about potential alternatives.

Blemish-causing Bacteria

When any genetic, hormonal or environmental factors cause the excess production of sebum, it can combine with dead skin cells to form plugs that block your pores.⁵

These blocked pores are the ideal breeding ground for P. acnes bacteria, which can then build up and cause blemishes.

A lot of anti-blemish products are designed to target these specific bacteria, to prevent them from breeding in blocked pores and the subsequent blemishes they cause. Most do so by killing them – but this means there is a risk of creating bacterial resistance. It can give rise to “super-bacteria” that can’t be harmed by typical antibacterial agents, causing products to lose their effectiveness.⁶

Papulex™ takes a different approach. We reduce bacterial adhesion to the pore by up to 97%⁷, so we don’t have to kill the bacteria, meaning less risk of resistance.

See our range of products, and how they both combat blemishes and help prevent new ones from forming here.

How can you address it?

While it is tempting to try home remedies, read up our article before you do here.

The best way to address your adult blemishes is through a dermatologist-recommended skincare approach of cleanse, tone and moisturise.⁴ You can find more details about this recommended approach on our caring for blemish-prone skin page. Read our top tips for blemish-prone skin here.