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How to Dealing With Adult Acne Skin Care?
As if fighting wrinkles wasn't enough, many adults continue to battle blemishes well into their forties and beyond. Not just for teens, acne--technically called acne vulgaris--is actually common in adults.
About 54% of women and 40% of men between 24 and 44 have some facial acne, according to one study, and 13% of those over 59, in another study. For some people, acne just doesn't go away after adolescence. For others, it appears for the first time in adulthood.
What's going on
Acne begins when glands at the base of hair follicles secrete too much sebum, an oily substance that lubricates the skin. Excess sebum, along with dead skin cells, can clog the follicles causing whiteheads or blackheads. If bacteria on the skin invade the clogged follicles, the follicle wall can rupture, resulting in redness and inflammation--that is, a red pimple.
Teens develop acne when a flood of hormones causes the oil glands to go wild. What triggers this cascade of events in adults is less clear, but besides genetics, hormonal changes remain a leading culprit. This explains why many women have acne flare-ups prior to their menstrual periods and during pregnancy. Some women experience acne for the first time, or a worsening of it, at menopause. Certain medical conditions may cause hormonal imbalances as well. Blemishes are also blamed on resistant bacteria, cosmetics, and some medications; emotional stress, climate changes, too little rest, and smoking may be other factors.
What about diet?
Despite persistent beliefs, a diet-acne connection has never been proven. Studies have failed to show that even large amounts of chocolate trigger acne outbreaks. Same goes for French fries and other greasy foods, sweets, sodas, nuts, and dairy products.
When to seek treatment
Adult acne is usually mild and tends to clear up on its own or with a little self help (see below). But if it persists or develops suddenly, see your doctor or dermatologist. Mild-to-moderate cases are usually treated with topical medicines (they may contain benzoyl peroxide, antibiotics, retinoids, and other ingredients); oral medications (including antibiotics) may help in more severe cases. What works for teens generally works for adults, too, although adult skin may be both more sensitive and more resistant to various ingredients. A dermatologist may also do light therapy, chemical peels, and gentle extractions. If hormone imbalance is a factor in a woman, oral contraceptives or an anti-androgen may be prescribed. The drug isotretinoin (Accutane) is very effective for scarring acne, but it has serious side effects and must not be taken by pregnant women or women who could become pregnant during treatment; it's safe to become pregnant a month after you stop the drug.
Self-help steps
- Wash your face thoroughly, but don't scrub too hard. Use a mild soap or facial cleanser, rinse well, and blot dry. Don't waste your money on medicated cleansers or granular face scrubs.
- Try over-the-counter skin products containing benzoyl peroxide, which kills bacteria (start with lower concentrations of 2.5% or 5%). Salicylic and glycolic acid help remove dead skin cells and surface oils. There are several new anti-acne product lines designed for adults, which claim to be less irritating. You might have to shop around to find the product that works best for your skin type, or ask a dermatologist to recommend one.
- Use oil-free moisturizers, sunscreens, and cosmetics labeled "non-comedogenic" or "non-acnegenic." Oil-based cosmetics can block sebum from naturally reaching the skin's surface, though a recent report clears mineral oil of blame. Re-move makeup completely before going to bed. Don't overmoisturize.
- Limit sun exposure. While sunning may help dry up acne, its long-term damage outweighs any short-term benefit.
- Resist the urge to pick or pop. This only increases inflammation and the risk of pitting and scarring.
- And by the way: Don't confuse acne vulgaris with acne rosacea, a chronic inflammatory skin disorder that causes tiny pimples around reddened areas on the face. If you think you may have rosacea, see a doctor, since the condition may worsen without treatment. Do not self-treat it with over-the-counter medication.
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