Sometimes acne isn’t restricted to your teenage years. If you’re dealing with adult acne, there may be simple things you can change to banish breakouts. Dr. Ava Shamban, board-certified dermatologist and author of Heal Your Skin, pinpoints the unhealthy skin habits to break. Just read more. 

  1. Can’t touch this: “Adult acne can appear anywhere you apply repeated or extended pressure on your skin,” Dr. Shamban explains. “Resting your chin on your hand while you work, pressing your cell phone on your chin, or wearing tight clothing can contribute to acne.” Touching your face can be a hard habit to break. To break the acne cycle, try using a headset with your cell phone and wearing a ponytail to keep hair out of your face.
  2. Sweat it out: “Surveys show that we often touch our faces 10 to 12 times an hour,” Shamban explains. “This can increase during the summer months as we wipe sweat from our faces.” Unfortunately, you can’t control your bodily functions, but sweat contributes to clogged pores. Instead of wiping sweat with your hands, invest in makeup-removing wipes like Ole Henriksen Truth to Go Wipes (Sephora.com, $15).
  3. Spectacle snag: It’s the season for sunglasses, but for acne-prone skin, glasses are an extra opportunity for nose pimples. “Wearing glasses makes it easier for oil, dead skin, and dirt to remain on the skin and clog pores beneath the frames,” Shamban says. To avoid breakouts caused by glasses, give the area added attention during your cleansing routine. Also, keep wipes nearby to clean your frames and skin throughout the day.
  4. She bangs: Your fringe may be on trend, but it can cause forehead acne. Dr. Shamban recommends pinning hair back when you can. Also, apply product with fingers or a comb instead of spritzing on your hair and face. Styling products can block your pores and start a breakout.
  5. Sunscreen side effects: We hope you’re wearing sunscreen every day, even if it’s overcast. But any beauty products without noncomedogenic on the label can set your acne-prone skin off. Choose water-based foundations, mineral-based powders , and oil-free sunscreens to minimize your blemish count.
  6. Cool down: Even though vacations can be fun, all the planning can be stressful. “Stress can trigger heightened levels of androgens—hormones which can contribute to adult breakouts,” Dr. Shamban explains. “Additionally, stress releases cortisol and other adrenal steroids, which can stimulate the sebaceous glands and result in acne flare-ups.” Deny the urge to reach for carb-rich snacks and junk food, which may only make your acne worse.