Adult Acne Tends to Come at the Worst Times
Acne is a source of frustration for a lot of adults, and it is more common than you might think. The treatments that you found effective for your acne when you were a teenager may not work so well now. Most over the counter remedies can dry and irritate the skin, and can even make your acne worse.
A lot of adults try many acne remedies before they happen upon a treatment that's effective. If this is the case for you, you might be wondering if you really have acne, or if it's something else. Read on to find some facts about adult acne.
Acne is sometimes thought of as something that only adolescents have to deal with, but the reality is that many adults are susceptible to having an acne flare-up. Adult acne can last well into middle age, and if your case has not gone away by the time you're in your mid-twenties, then it might be more difficult to treat. Adult acne lesions are often painful, large and very inflamed, and the pimples can pop up on the back, buttocks, and the lower part of the face.
Late onset or adult acne is more common in women, although some men get it too. It is an equal opportunity condition, affecting both those who had acne as a teen and those who've never had a breakout. Adult acne is largely hormonally triggered, and many menopausal women get it.
Almost all late onset acne cases are caused by excess oil production in the sebaceous glands. This extra oil combines in the pores, with dead skin cells and bacteria. Like we said, hormone imbalances can stimulate the oil glands- which tells us why women break out at that time of the month, or during pregnancy.
Some medicines are known to aggravate acne. If you are on birth control, you've probably seen a reduction in your acne. Suddenly stopping the pills can make your skin flare up. If your pill contains estrogen and progestins, it can bring your acne under control, but if the pill only contains progestins, your acne can get worse.
Contraceptives aren't the only medicines that can influence acne. Some corticosteroids can trigger it, but you should never stop taking a prescription medicine just because it causes acne. If the breakouts are bothersome, speak to your doctor and dermatologist, who can help you minimize the acne while staying on your medication.
Most acne cases are hereditary. In studies, roughly fifty percent of adults who had acne have other immediate relatives that have it as well. Scientists aren't really sure why acne has a genetic link, but they are finding out more almost every day.
Stress is also known to trigger acne, and this is particularly true for women. Research has shown a link between higher stress and more serious cases of acne, especially in women that have stressful jobs and home lives. A body under stress makes more stress hormones, which in turn induce the glands to make more oil.
Certain hair and skincare products can promote the formation of acne. Some sunscreens and hair products contain a lot of oil, that can cause acne cosmetica. When you buy haircare and skincare products, look for those that are labeled "non-acnegenic" or "non-comedogenic". These are a lot less likely to cause acne, although they can still irritate very sensitive skin.
Adult acne can be a symptom of a much more serious ailment. If your acne comes with thinning hair, or increased facial hair, and an irregular cycle, you could have polycystic ovary syndrome or a disorder of the adrenal glands- or even a tumor on the ovary. If you have any of these symptoms, see your doctor at once. They will run tests to find out why you have these symptoms, and the sooner you treat them, the sooner your acne will disappear.
If you don't have any serious medical problems, your case of adult acne can probably be controlled with acne therapy. A lot of adults that have acne don't get treatment for it, because they think it's something they'll just have to live with. While adult acne can be difficult to treat, it is possible to bring it under control and even eliminate it.