Avoiding Adult Acne - Adult Acne

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Avoiding Adult Acne

5 ways to keep your skin from breaking out.
Won't they ever go away? As an adult, you had hoped pimples would be a thing of the past, but for many adults, they continue to mar otherwise healthy skin. For some, acne may be even worse in adulthood than adolescence.

More than simply a cosmetic problem, acne can greatly impact your quality of life, no matter what your age or the severity of your condition. If you are battling recurring skin breakouts, finding a path to clearer skin is vital to your self-esteem, body image, and mental health.

Acne vulgaris is the most common skin disease in the United States. An estimated one in five adults between 25 and 44 experience acne.

There is no single cause of acne, and because of this, there is no surefire way to avoid it or control it. Acne is influenced by several factors, many of which are out of your control. However, the way you treat your skin does play an important role.

Types of acne lesions
All acne begins with one basic lesion: the comedo, which can take the form of: blackheads, or whiteheads. If bacteria flourish within the swollen follicle of the comedo, the skin surrounding the follicle may become inflamed as your white blood cells work to fight off the intruders. This can lead to more serious papules, pustules, or cysts.

With a little know-how, you can minimize, or potentially eliminate, occasional acne outbreaks on your face, back, shoulders, neck, chest, limbs, or elsewhere, merely by changing a few small behaviors.

1. Take a close look at your hair and skin products
Simply switching to "noncomedogenic" hair and skin products could make a big difference in the appearance of your skin. When you use hair conditioners, gels, pomades, shaving products, cosmetics, moisturizers, sunscreens, and other products that contain oil, you can clog your pores and suffer a breakout.

Check the labels on your hair and skin products to see if they are marked oil-free and "noncomedogenic." Also, consider whether you truly need every product you use. Even products marked "dermatologist tested" can cause acne for some people. Minimizing the number of products you use may help further reduce outbreaks. When exercising, wear as little make-up as possible. Even oil-free and noncomedogenic cosmetics can clog pores if worn during heavy exercise.

2. Think about your hands
Do you often rest your hands on your chin or cheeks or rub your nose? Doing so can encourage the growth of bacteria and cause infection to the areas most inflamed by adult acne. Your strict "hands off" policy should hold during times of breakout, too. Picking or squeezing can drive acne bacteria deeper into the skin, leading to more inflammation and possible permanent scarring.

3. Don't let sweat stick around
Rinse off as soon as possible after you work out. Physical activity heats up the body, causing perspiration to mix with surface skin oils. Together, they trap substances in your pores. If a quick rinse isn't possible, towel off and change into dry clothes as soon as you can. Sitting around in your sweaty clothes, especially if they are tight-fitting, can lead to acne mechanica on your chest, back, and other parts of the body. Also, you should avoid wearing tight headbands or hats that rub against your skin. If you wear a helmet or any other safety gear with straps, be sure to wash the straps frequently to reduce bacteria.

4. Avoid overwashing or using harsh scrubs
Acne is not caused by dirt, so washing frequently with harsh substances such as alcohol-based products won't solve the problem. In fact, it may make the situation worse by prompting excess oil production and more blemishes. Be good to your skin by washing gently from under the jaw to the hairline with a mild soap once or twice a day. You might find that simply washing with lukewarm water and using clean hands rather than a washcloth works well for you. To avoid irritating or inflaming your skin, pat—rather than rub—it dry with a soft towel. Also, be cautious of cleansing products that claim to be formulated for acne prone skin, as these can leave healthy skin dry and irritated.

5. Monitor your stress levels
A recent study revealed that emotional stress may have a significant influence on acne. When you're under stress, your body produces stress hormones such as cortisol, which can stimulate an over-production of oil from the sebaceous glands in the skin. When this excess oil mixes with dead skin cells and bacteria, it can cause acne to develop or become worse. If you suffer from stress regularly, try to take short breaks throughout the day to stretch and practice deep breathing exercises. Exercising regularly is another great way to ease anxiety and reduce stress. If all else fails, consider reprioritizing your to-do list and eliminating any items you can.

Acne treatment options
Herbal treatments: Although the research is limited, some studies have found basil oil (Ocimum basilicum) and tea tree oil to be effective topical treatments for mild acne.

Over-the-counter remedies: Products containing benzoyl peroxide, resorcinol, or salicylic acid as the active ingredient are available in concentrations of 2% or more.

Prescription medications: Isotretinoin is an effective treatment for severe acne vulgaris. In most cases, long-term or permanent remission can be achieved.

A good place to start
While there is no cure for acne, you can control most mild breakouts with proper skin and body care. Start by focusing on the basic strategies mentioned here, keeping in mind that when it comes to skin care, simplicity is often the best solution. If you keep up these healthy habits for a month or two and still don't see any results, there could be other factors causing your skin to break out. For women, hormonal changes, such as those associated with their menstrual cycle, pregnancy, or starting or stopping birth control pills, may cause intermittent acne. The sudden onset of acne in an adult also may indicate a reaction to a medication, such as prescription steroids or antibiotics.

An acne breakout also could be the result of an allergic reaction to foods or cosmetics. Heredity or genetics is another factor that plays a role in the development of adult-onset acne.

Common Acne Myths
Myth #1: Acne is caused by poor hygiene.
It's not clear what causes overproduction of pore-clogging skin oils, or what causes some hair follicles to become inflamed and infected.

Myth #2: Acne will go away after age 30.
Many adults suffer from acne.

Myth #3: Sun exposure cures acne.
Sun exposure has no effect on acne severity or duration.

Talk to your healthcare provider or dermatologist about your condition and other treatment options. RA