Having
adult acne is quite a common thing, affecting one out of five women between the
ages 25 to 40, and about 5% of adults over 45 years of age.
Adult acne does not differ much from
the acne experienced during the teenage years. Its formation is still due to
the excess sebum production of the sebaceous glands from an imbalance of
hormones, ending up with the same swollen painful acne.
It differs in the way it is treated
since adult skin tends to be more dry and sensitive as compared to what it was
during the teenage years. It would need more extensive and specialized
treatment to keep it from scarring due a decreased production of collagen and
having other complications.
What
are the causes of Adult Acne?
- Stress – Increases production
of androgens that stimulates sebum production. Learn more about Stress and Acne
- Birth control pills – These
pills are usually composed of progesterone and estrogen, hormones that
regulate the activity of androgens. Once discontinued, the androgens
will increase, thus stimulating sebum production.
- Pregnancy – Progesterone is
the hormone at high levels during pregnancy. It has androgenic qualities
that can stimulate sebum production.
- Prescription Drugs – Certain
drugs such as lithium and barbiturates, found in antidepressants and
sleeping pills respectively have been found to promote acne formation.
- Menopause – A decrease in the
hormonal activity of estrogen is common during menopause, which in turn
increases androgen activity, thus stimulating acne formation.
- Skin care products and certain
cosmetics with additional oils – Even if you use skin care products for
dry skin, the oil in it may further aggravate its condition. It would be
better to use alternatives that do not contain oil as an ingredient.
This will help keep the skin hydrated while avoiding clogging up the
pores.
Pointers
on Getting Rid of Adult Acne
- Know your type of skin to
know what to use to treat your acne. For dry and sensitive skin, a
gentle cleanser together with an alcohol-free toner would be best, plus
a calming oil-free mask. Using scrubs, harsh cleansers and toners will
just aggravate the condition.
- Properly hydrating your body
with at least 8 glasses or about a liter of water a day will help
clogging of pores as the skin’s secretion will be diluted.
- Eat antioxidant-rich foods to
maintain the skin’s vitality and health.
- Cutting down on food with
high fat content will decrease sebum production.
- Use an exfoliating scrub that
contains glycolic acid or salicylic acid instead of grains to promote
cell turnover.
- Always ask a qualified
dermatologist how to treat and manage your acne once it becomes quite severe
to avoid deep scar formation.
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