Adult Acne Solution

It’s often not taken particularly seriously, but acne affects 20% of women and can cause scarring in a fifth of those. But there are effective ways of treating it

W ant to know the difference between acne and spots? There isn’t one, according to Dr Anjali Mahto of the British Association of Dermatologists. How many spots you have is irrelevant – even a few can really bother people. Those afflicted can become anxious, avoid social events and even stop going to work. “The mistake people make is to think acne is a cosmetic condition, ” says Mahto. So if you think you might have acne, you probably do.

Adult-onset acne starts at around the age of 23 but can occur at any age in people who have never had spots before. Mahto says it affects 20% of women compared with 8% of men. It is a condition largely caused by genetics and hormones and not, as myth would have it, through dirty skin and too many chips. Even after the menopause women can suffer from acne – the male hormone androgen, in excessive amounts, is linked to the condition, but women produce it too, and during the menopause oestrogen levels drop and so the proportion of androgen rises. This causes a build up of dead skin cells and increased oil production, clogging up the hair follicles. Bacteria (

The 17 Best Acne Treatments, According To Dermatologists

) move in and the skin erupts in pustules, nodules (bumps) and cysts. Nodules that are inflamed and push deeper into the skin can be painful for weeks and cause scarring.

If you have painful, persistent spots you should treat them. “People don’t take acne seriously enough, ” says Mahto. “About 20% of people get scarring.” Most people try over-the-counter products such as salicylic acid, glycolic acid, niacinamide, tea tree oil and benzoyl peroxide. They work in various ways, such as killing the bacteria and reducing the inflammation and skin cell shedding. If nothing is better in several weeks, you should see your GP. They may prescribe antibiotics such as Lymecycline for three months to reduce the bacteria – the time limit helps prevent antibiotic resistance and your gut flora getting messed up. Antibiotics can be used with creams or lotions such as a retinoid or benzoyl peroxide; both unclog the pores by clearing dead skin cells.

For women who want to combine contraception with an anti-acne treatment, the pill can be very effective, though some are better than others at treating acne; Mahto suggests Yasmin. A dermatologist can offer isotretinoin, which is effective, but causes abnormalities in babies and so any women using it should be on contraception. It is derived from vitamin A and hits every aspect of acne production from reducing oil production and stopping skin cells from blocking the pores to preventing inflammation.This article was medically reviewed by Caroline Chang, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and member of the Medical Review Board, on June 4, 2019.

Adult Female Acne: Why It Happens And The Emotional Toll

Red, bumpy skin plagued you throughout your teens—and just when you thought those pesky zits were gone for good, they’ve come back to haunt you far beyond puberty.

While adult acne is incredibly annoying, it’s pretty common well into your 30s, 40s, and even 50s, especially if you’re a woman, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD).

In fact, some research has found that adult acne has plagued up to 45 percent of women aged 21 to 30, 26 percent of women 31 to 40, and 12 percent of women 41 to 50.

Causes Of Adult Acne

The frustrating part? Reaching for that oil-stripping face wash that helped you fight zits 10 or 15 years ago may not do anything at all or even make your complexion worse, since your skin naturally loses moisture as you age.

To truly get to the root of the problem, you need to figure out what’s triggering your bumps in the first place. But what causes adult acne, exactly? A variety of factors—from your diet to your hormones to your daily skin care routine—could be to blame. Here, dermatologists break down the most common adult acne causes and what you can do to banish those pesky pimples for good.

Your hormones influence your entire body, including your skin. “Acne, at its most basic level, is caused by hormonal stimulation of oil production, ” explains Joshua Zeichner, MD, director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. This is why so many women experience acne during their period, pregnancy, and menopause.

Severe Acne: Antibiotics For Wiping Out Acne For Clear Skin

Certain health conditions can also lead to hormonal imbalances, the most common being polycystic ovarian syndrome, a condition in which women produce excess androgens (aka testosterone), explains Michele Farber, MD, a board-certified dermatologist practicing at Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York. These hormones boost oil production, resulting in clogged pores where acne bacteria flourishes. Hello, pimples.

How to clear up hormonal acne: This type of adult acne commonly develops on the lower third of your face, along the jawline, chin, and mouth, says Dr. Zeichner. If you suspect your acne may be hormonal and topical drugstore treatments aren’t helping, talk to your dermatologist about prescription medications like spironolactone (which actually blocks androgen receptors) or even birth control pills, which can help regulate hormonal fluctuations during your menstrual cycle.

, Mr. Giant Angry Zit shows up to make things even worse. While the correlation has long been suspected, researchers are just now starting to study the link between stress and adult acne.

Acne Treatments, Seattle, Wa

Case in point: In a 2017 study of 144 female medical students, researchers used an acne grading system and a self-reported stress test to analyze the link between the two. They found that women who had higher stress scores experienced significantly worse acne lesions. You can once again blame hormones for this one. “Stress leads to a surge in hormones that promote oil production, ” explains Dr. Zeichner, such as cortisol and androgens. “This, in turn, blocks the pores promoting breakouts.”

How to clear up stress-related acne: Chill out! Finding a way to reduce stress—whether it be through exercise, meditation, or taking 20 minutes to read a book each day—is not only beneficial for your physical and mental health, but it may also help keep your skin clear, says Dr. Farber.

The relationship between diet and acne is complicated, but there is evidence that eating foods high on the glycemic index (GI)—which are typically rich in refined carbs—may mess with your skin, according to a 2016 review of research.

Adult Acne: Treatment And Prevention, According To Derms

“One study from the United States demonstrated that 91 percent of patients who adopted a low-glycemic diet required less medication for their acne, ” explains Meghan Feely, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New Jersey and New York City who serves as a clinical dermatology instructor at Mount Sinai. “Less acne was reported by 87 percent of patients in the study.”

The possible reason? Eating a high-GI diet spikes your insulin levels, which triggers excess inflammation and oil production in the skin, potentially leading to more breakouts, says Dr. Feely. What’s more, people who eat a lower-GI diet tend to have lower levels of IGF-1, a hormone similar to insulin that may trigger acne production, according to a 2018 study. Still, the connection has been inconsistent, and more research needs to be done to understand how sugar really impacts acne.

How to clear up sugar-triggered acne: If you sense your skin gets worse after downing carbs, consider limiting high-GI foods—like white bread, rice, and potatoes, sugary drinks and snacks, fries, and donuts—from your diet to see if you notice an improvement. You’ll get the best results teaming up with a doctor, since you can work together to slowly eliminate foods and identify triggers. “On an individual basis, it is important to monitor how certain foods flare skin and to cut these out—and make a regimen for acne with your dermatologist, ” says Dr. Farber.

Skincare Solutions To Treat Adult Acne

Got breakouts? Your daily glass of milk could be a culprit, according to a growing body of research on diet and acne. “Dairy, particularly cow’s milk, has been shown to be associated with acne breakouts, ” says Dr. Zeichner. “The highest association has been shown with skim milk. It is unclear whether it is a high level of sugar in the milk, or whether it is hormones passed onto the milk from the lactating cows that lead to inflammation in the skin.”

Bacteria responsible for those annoying pimples increases inflammation in the skin, but the foods you eat also have the potential to make that inflammation even worse, spiking oil production and clogging your pores even further.

How to clear up dairy-related acne: “If you suffer from acne, consider a milk alternative like almond milk. Interestingly, cheese and yogurt has not been associated with acne breakouts, ” says Dr. Zeichner. Just be sure to consult with a registered dietitian if you plan on making any dramatic changes, especially if you have a health condition closely linked to your diet.

Fighting Pimples And Wrinkles At The Same Time

Dealing with acne can be a bit of a confidence killer, and it’s only natural to want to cover it up. But packing on the foundation, concealer, and powder may be the reason your skin is freaking out