Battling Adult Acne

It is widely known that acne is part of being a teenager. Parents tell us that we will grow out of it eventually. For some this is true, but for others, it seems as though they approach their twenties battling acne as if they were a young teenager going through puberty. It was found that about 54% of women suffer from some sort of facial acne ranging from mild to severe from the age of 24-44 (Berkeley Wellness). Acne does not go away with age for some, while others may not even have acne appear until adulthood. For most adults this can be discouraging and embarrassing. Acne is often blamed on young age and poor hygiene. Similar to teenagers, acne can have a negative effect on adults.

Teens develop acne because of the flood of hormones and changes that their bodies are making at that time in their life.The cause for acne adults is still questioned by many. Some believe it can be linked to genetcs, some can still be that hormone flares especially in women just before their menstrual period. Other reasons can be stress, resistant bacteria, climate changes, too little sleep, medications, or from smoking. 

Treating Adult Acne

• Wash and moisturize face one-two times a day.
• When washing your face be thorough but do not scrub too hard.
• Use a mild soap or facial cleanser specific for your skin. (Dry, Oily, Moderate) 
• When using a moisturizer avoid products that are oil based. 
• When choosing cosmetics avoid oil based cosmetics. Also remember to never go to sleep with out removing make up. 
• Avoid picking or popping pimples this will only irritate the skin, prolong healing, and can cause scaring. 
• Try an over-the-counter product containing benzoyl peroxide, which helps with killing bacteria. 
• If basic home treatment does not work, you may want to consider consulting with your doctor about different treatment. This could include oral contraceptives, Accutane (isotretinoin), or other products that can be used with a prescription. 

For more information of acne and its treatment follow the link below. 

BYU-Idaho Health Center

Resources:

Google Images

BYU-Idaho Wellness. (2012). "Skin Care for Acne". BYU-Idaho Patient Education. 

WebMD. (2013) "Acne Health Care" WebMD. Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/acne/acne-vulgaris-home-treatment

University of California Berkeley. (2014). "Dealing with Adult Acne" Berkley Wellness. Retrieved from http://www.berkeleywellness.com/self-care/preventive-care/lists/dealing-with-adult-acne/slideid_1529