It can affect just about anyone past puberty. The American Academy of Dermatology say’s it’s the most prevalent skin condition in the United States. Almost HALF of adults suffer from some form of acne.Teenage acne has different causes than the acne that adults get. So those same treatments that worked well when you were in your teens, can be useless – or even make your acne WORSE as an adult!Most teen acne is caused by puberty (and teenage hormones) and excess oil. While adult acne is caused by stress, hormonal shifts, and increasingly delicate skin. It’s possible to be acne free during your teenage years then get your first breakout as an adult. Some adults get acne as late as in their 50s!Waiting for adult acne to clear can be extremely frustrating. Without treatment , acne can cause low self-esteem, depression, anxiety and permanent scarring. 7 Things That Cause Adult Acne
1. Fluctuating hormone levels can cause adult acne. Women’s hormones change frequently around their periods, during pregnancy, in peri-menopause and menopause. Some women get their first breakout when going through menopause. Many women also get acne after starting or stopping their birth control pills.
2. Stress can cause adult acne. When we are under stress, our bodies produce more androgen hormones. The androgens stimulate the oil glands and hair follicles in the skin, which can lead to acne.
3. Your family history may make you more prone to adult acne. People who have relatives with acne are more likely to get adult acne.
4. Hair and skin care products can cause adult acne. If you have adult acne, read the labels on your skin and hair care products. Make sure that you see at least one of the following terms on every container: Non-Acnegenic, Non-Comedogenic, Oil Free, or Won’t Clog Pores. Products with these labels are least likely to cause acne.
5. Adult acne can be a side effect of medications. If you suspect that a medication is triggering your acne or making it worse, continue taking the medicine — but ask the doctor who prescribed it if acne is a possible side effect. Ask about taking a different medicine. If changing medications is not an option, you may want to see a dermatologist who can help you control the acne.
6. Undiagnosed medical conditions may cause adult acne. Once the medical condition is diagnosed and treated, the acne often clears. An example is Hidradenditis suppurativa. It is a long-term skin disease, which often goes undiagnosed because it looks like acne. If you have acne in your armpit, on your groin, or under your breasts, you might have this disease.
7. Dairy may cause adult acne. There’s no definite link between dairy and acne, but there are theories about it. Studies have shown associations between dairy and acne, but they don’t show cause and effect, and they don’t prove that dairy causes acne. Even though people who’ve quit dairy may tell you it improved their acne, it doesn’t mean that the same will be true for you.
F. William Danby, MD, explained in a medical journal in 2008, how acne and dairy may be related. Milk contains components related to the hormone testosterone. The testosterone may stimulate oil glands in skin and cause acne. Recent research has found a link between the whey protein in milk and acne.
So what can you do to improve your adult acne? Many people with mild acne get good results with products available without a prescription. A product containing benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid often clears the skin. This does not mean that the acne will clear overnight. Most over the counter treatments take 4 – 8 weeks to show improvement. Once acne clears, you have to continue the treatment to prevent future breakouts.
Blue light therapy is a newer, very effective option in the fight against acne. Certain blue LED wavelengths (400nm to 470nm) target the P. acnes bacteria, the strain of bacteria that causes inflammatory acne. The light starts development of oxygen radicals that kill this bacteria without damaging healthy skin. It works best for mild to moderate adult acne and is great for people who cannot use the harsh products commonly used to fight acne. Lights that combine red and blue wavelengths or just blue lights can be used to treat acne; but acne treatment is most effective with combination blue (415 nm) and red (640 nm) LED devices. Red light (640 nm) reduces the inflammation associated with breakouts. Light therapy can be done in an office or at home with a hand held device.
At this time, I wouldn’t recommend blue light therapy for people with dark skin. Instead, you might consider using red light alone. It targets the redness and swelling of acne.
10. Use a light skin moisturizer and water-based, oil-free makeup.
11. Keep your hands off your face.
12. At night, apply a spot cream containing sulfur to the affected areas.
13. If your skin is not too sensitive, use topical retinoids at night.
14. Talk to your doctor about limiting or eliminating dairy from your diet.
15. Stay out of the sun and tanning beds.
16. When the skin clears, treatment should continue.
17. Consider LED blue light therapy, either at a medical office or at home.
your acne makes you feel shy or embarrassed your acne is leaving scars and darkening your skin you have lots of acne, cysts, or nodules medicine you buy without a prescription does not work
