Stubborn Adult Acne – Does Anything Really Work?
While most teens are familiar with pimples and acne that can occur as their hormones kick in, the common assumption is teens will outgrow their acne once they are through adolescence. Actually adult acne is quite common and more and more adults are battling this stubborn skin condition.
While many teens do eventually outgrow their acne, for others it can persist into their adult years and for an unfortunate few it can become chronic. For adults, acne can be even more stressful and embarrassing than for teens. While most teens have a pimple or two, many adult acne sufferers must see friends and coworkers with clear skin while they are still battling the acne they were supposed to outgrow.
Adult acne can be a continuation of teenage acne or can occur for the first time in the early twenties. For a few unfortunate people, acne can persist all the way up to their fifties. Some women, who have enjoyed many years of clear skin, find their acne reappears during the hormone shifts at menopause. Adult acne is usually more difficult to treat than teenage acne and needs a multi-faceted approach to bring the condition under control.
Adult acne can be made worse by the stresses of modern life including balancing careers with family life, not to mention our unhealthy lifestyles and poor diet.
Dermatologists are finding more adults today are seeking treatment for adult acne and the increasing stressful, unhealthy lifestyles we live today are likely contributing to this increase.
The androgens, or male hormones, are they culprits behind acne and it's not surprising that cases are usually more severe in young males with high hormone levels and they are at risk for serious acne scarring. Women, on the other hand, generally have more mild forms of acne but suffer more often from chronic acne problems or skin breakouts during their adult years. Women are more susceptible to breakouts due to hormonal changes with birth control pills, pregnancy, normal menstrual cycles and menopause.
Doctors still don't know exactly what causes acne in some and not others, and why it is so common today. Experts suggest environmental factors such as chemicals in our environment, hormones and antibiotics added to our foods, and unhealthy habits such as drinking alcohol, eating sugar and smoking all contribute to the rise in acne.
How can you get adult acne under control?
While there is still no cure for chronic acne, there are many prescription and over the counter acne medications that can keep this skin condition under control. There are also new laser technologies that are promising and these technologies improve every day. Today there are treatments that can also improve the scars that severe acne can leave behind. It's always best to treat your acne quickly and prevent scarring because these unfortunate reminders of past break outs can be difficult and expensive to treat. With all of the treatment options available today, there is no reason anyone should simply suffer from acne.
There are a variety of treatments options for every budget. Don't just suffer...learn more about what you can do to keep your skin clear and healthy today.
Learn more about adult acne treatment. Stop by Joy Byers's site where you can find out all about skin care today and what you can do for your skin.