By Gina Garabelli
The teenage years are associated with many things: First dates, first love, high school, driving privileges, and… acne.
However a growing number of adults, especially women, are encountering acne in their mid-twenties, and even in their thirties. This can occur even when the person did not have any acne as a teenager.
Acne can take several different types. Mild adult acne can consist Mild adult acne may consist as blackheads, whiteheads, or small pustules, or in moderate forms, papules (which cover anywhere from 25% to 75% of a person’s face. Severe adult acne often comes with more extreme redness, swelling, irritation, and deep cysts. Another condition, rosacea is often referred to as “adult acne,” but is different from classic acne because the bumps are usually smaller and they appear all at once, in cycles.
Most adult acne is caused by caused by inflammation and clogged pores. Occasionally, it is genetic pre-disposition, coupled with an extreme event, e.g. pregnancy, traumatic experience, etc.
Fluctuating hormones can also cause adult acne because of the changes they create in the entire body and the environment of the skin. This causes a pH imbalance to occur. That
causes the inflammation of the skin, differences in circulation, or excessive production of oil (sebum).
It is normal for there to be some hormonal fluctuations due to aging as well as when women are having menstruation, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and elevated and prolonged stress.
Hormonal acne usually appears as a deep and cyst-like bump, and is often tender or painful.
Anything that irritates the skin can lower the skin’s defenses and cause a protective reaction that leads to inflammation. This may include harsh cleansers or razors used against dry skin.
Emotional stress creates biological changes in the body that can lead to many of the other triggers of adult acne. When you’re feeling scared, anxious, or pressured, you start to produce more of the stress hormone cortisol, which causes an imbalance in the skin.
The same applies to physical stress events e.g. extreme weather, a lack of sleep, dehydration, and being exposed to aerial irritants. Smoking and allergies increase the probability of adult acne in some adults. When the body produces excess oils, in response to the rise in stress levels, the pores of your skin can become clogged. A rapid turnover of skin cells can lead to backed up hair follicles. In both cases, the result is usually acne.
Bacteria causes acne when it’s present in the skin, especially if it manages to build up. Most people don’t get acne because of poor hygiene, however. The bacteria accumulate underneath the skin and can’t always be reached through surface cleansing. Some of the medications that contain corticosteroids, anti-depressants, and epilepsy treatments also have been triggers for adult acne.
Because treatment results can vary from one person to the next, some people like to try one or two at a time to figure out what will work best. For some, OTC remedies work quickly, but if they don’t provide the results you really want, a doctor can help you determine whether a prescription might work better.
Some home remedies include applications of apple cider vinegar, aloe vera, green tea extract, vitamin A, and pro-biotics.
Medical treatments include, first and foremost, scheduling a visit to see a dermatologist. A doctor may prescribe oral hormonal treatment. The others you would apply directly to your skin.including hydroxyl, oral birth control pills, antibiotics, sulfur, and blue light therapy Although the precise treatments may be different, a daily well-balanced diet, daily exercise, and a disciplined skin cleaning routine will help, along with yoga for tranquility.
