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Adult Acne At-a-Glance

Home > Articles > Adult Acne At-a-Glance

Adult Acne At-a-Glance
October 2009

It is Monday morning and you're meeting an important new business client for lunch. Now what's this pimple on your jaw line? One in every 5 women over age 25 has adult acne. More women than men have adult acne. It may be either acne which never stopped from childhood into adulthood (persistent acne) or first time acne (late-onset acne).

Adult acne is caused by pores becoming clogged by sebum, an oily substance produced by the skin's sebaceous glands. The clogged pores then attract bacteria and become inflamed.

There are many triggers for adult acne outbreaks; one is hormonal. Any change in hormones, be it stopping or changing birth control pills, pregnancy, or menopause can trigger outbreaks. Most of these hormonal shifts are simply normal fluctuations in hormones, not hormonal imbalances. Other triggers include stress, certain medications, and cosmetics.

It is important to have a good skin care regimen. What works for teenage skin does not always work with adult skin which is drier in spite of the oil clogged pores.

Start with a gentle cleanser, like Kinerase Gentle Daily Cleanser. If you have sensitive skin, avoid products that contain beads or granules whose abrasive nature can irritate sensitive skin.

• Use your hands to wash your face or a really soft washcloth like Jane Iredale's Magic Mitt which cleanses using only warm water and rinses off masks in a snap. Rough washcloths can irritate the skin.

• Add a mild chemical exfoliator such as salicylic acid or glycolic acid to your routine. Peter Thomas Roth Max Complexion Correction Pads has Hydroxy Acids to reduce breakouts and blackheads, erase fine lines and wrinkles, and effectively treat skin discoloration. Harsh scrubs or repeated microdermabrasion will irritate the skin and make acne worse.

• Products like that contain benzoyl peroxide can be used to spot-treat a breakout. DDF Benzoyl Peroxide Gel 5% with Tea Tree Oil helps kill acne causing bacteria and reduces inflammation and irritation associated with breakouts.

• Using an over-the-counter retinol product helps keep pores clean and clear, and reduces fine lines and wrinkles. Try Murad's Skin Perfecting oil-free Lotion.

• Sunscreens are important for the prevention of aging and skin cancer. It is also important for adult acne patients to use a sunscreen since many acne treatments can cause hypersensitivity to the sun. Peter Thomas Roth Instant Mineral SPF 30 is a loose powder with a built-in brush that swirls on instantly to protect from harmful UVA/UVB rays. This powerful physical sunscreen protection absorbs oil throughout the day for a matte finish and won't clog pores.

If a good skin care regimen is not enough, then see your dermatologist. You may be someone who needs a topical antibiotic cream or oral antibiotic. You may also benefit from blue light therapy like the ANSR BEAM now available over the counter, or professional Laser treatments.