Are You Making Your Skin Sick?

If your complexion seems to be going schizo these days, your lifestyle may be to blame. Find out why 2Osomething women are suddenly baffling breakouts, weird bumps, and other face bummers--and what you can do about them.

Elizabeth [*], 28, got through her teens and early 20s with barely a blemish. But when she hit 25--the same year she was finally promoted from low-rung public relations assistant to big-time account exec--her skin turned into a disaster zone.

"First it was just blackheads and little bumps, but now I get these monster breakouts twice a month," the New Yorker says. "It's really embarrassing, because I'll spend a week gearing up for a big presentation, and by Friday morning, I will have totally broken out. A few days later, when my life calms down, my skin problems subside too."

Elizabeth's not the only one whose once problem-free face is suddenly erupting in volcanic zits. Leading dermatologists report that their offices are being flooded with successful young women bemoaning their new blemislies. "It used to be that the worst of acne ended with adolescence," says Bruce Katz, M.D., director of the JUVA Skin Care Center in Manhattan. "But now, doctors are seeing women in their 20s and even 30s plagued with pimples." Dermatologists say they've also been treating a slew of other skin ickies, such as dry scales and blotchy spots.

So what's causing this new problem-skin epidemic? You could blame it on modern culture. "These days, a young woman's lifestyle is vastly different from that of two decades ago," explains Laurio Polis, M.D., director of the SoHo Skin and Laser Center in New York City "There are grueling hours at work, various kinds of pollution to contend with, and a multitude of available products to OD on--any combination of which can throw even normal complexions out of whack." On a positive note, although a 2lst-century existence can wreak havoc on your skin, experts assure there's no need to panic. "There are many effective treatments available, both behavioral and in a bottle," says Dr. Polis. "These days, not even the most stressed-out workaholic has to suffer from embarrassing skin problems." Below, the new skin saboteurs to watch out for--and expert strategies to get your face into super, stunning shape.

SKIN SABOTEUR 1

Ten-Ton Pressure