5 Ways to Treat Adult Acne
Having acne during adulthood is more common and prevalent than many people think. This is in part because acne is normally consider an elevated, pink and inflamed bump. But, that’s only one form. Acne can also in more serious cases, involve pustules and cysts.
Most adults try a variety of treatments to cure their acne, but unfortunately there isn’t one solution that cures all. Whether you’ve tried over-the-counter creams or cleansers, the primary goal should be to get to the root of the problem.
Understanding what’s causing the acne breakout in the first place is the first step to finding a solution that works.
Cause of Adult Acne
A damaged pore is at the heart of all acne. Your pores are an important element of your skin, as they are also the opening that surrounds every hair follicle. The same cause of teenage acne – pores clogged with fluids and bacteria – is often at the heart of adult acne as well.
For women facing adult acne, hormones are often a key factor, especially the hormones that follow the menstrual cycle. Estrogen levels are often diminishing as women grow older, while an increase in male hormones such as testosterone and dihydrotestosterone are happening simultaneously.
Because of the lower levels of female hormones, the effects of the male hormones become more evident. Oil production increases and can contribute to obstructed pores and excessive acne.
Also, some individuals may be predisposed to adult acne. Certain genetic factors such as pore size can contribute to the cause. You may not be able to control such genetic variables, but you can adjust your skincare regimen to guarantee that your skin is the best it can be.
Treatment of Adult Acne
There’s a number of different options to treat adult acne including:
1. Topical Treatments:
Topical creams may be used for unclogging pores and exfoliating the skin. Topicals that include glycolic acid may help the skin exfoliate and improve in appearance. What glycolic acid does is help the surface of your skin shed dead cells. Specifically, a glycolic pad is often used to enhance the skin’s appearance.
Mind that in order to see if a topical treatment is an effective solution, it should be regularly used for several weeks to see if the skin improves.
2. Lowered Stress Levels
As part of our body’s stress response, cortisol and other hormones are released. Higher levels of cortisol lead to an increase in the body’s oil production. As mentioned earlier, the more oil there is on our faces, the greater chance of clogged pores and acne. So when your begin to notice a sudden increase in breakouts, take a minute to find out if something is happening to cause stress. Lowering the levels of stress you’re under may be the solution to minimizing your acne.
3. A Proper Diet Plan
Leafy greens and a healthy diet of fruits and vegetables containing vitamin C and beta carotene, which have an anti-inflammatory effect, can be beneficial in reducing acne breakouts. Tests have shown that dairy products and carbohydrates may be correlated with an increase in acne.
Just like with topical treatments, a proper diet should be followed regularly for several weeks to see if the skin improves.
4. A Daily Cleansing Routine
While this may sound like the most common sense solution, ensuring you have a daily cleansing routine is vital. Everyday, our skin is exposed to air pollution, especially dirt and UV radiation. This daily exposure takes its toll.
While you don’t want to overwash your face, or scrub too intensely, make it a goal to clean your face twice per day. That frequency is enough to exfoliate your skin without leaving it too dry or sensitive.
5. Oral Treatments
If you’re finding external treatments aren’t curing your acne problems, it may be time to consider oral treatments. The ineffectiveness of external treatments may be a sign that internal processes are driving hormonal acne. In these situations, it’s best to consult a dermatologist.
There are many ways to cope with these problems at home through the use certain topicals, an improved diet, and more relaxation. However, when those solutions aren’t curing the acne breakout, it may be time to speak with a dermatologist.
At Skin Specialists, we’ll provide a proper consultation to get a better understanding of your condition. Our professional team will advise you on the best steps to improve your condition be it an oral medication, topical medication, or an in-office facial treatment.
