Adult Acne Making You Blue?

Predominantly affecting women in their 30s, 40s or even 50s, adult acne often comes as a surprise to those who either escaped acne as teenagers or thought their suffering from this inflammatory, eruptive disease had long ago subsided.

Fluctuating hormone levels, stress and certain medications such as birth control products may trigger adult acne. It may also be a warning sign of an underlying medical condition (for example, polycystic ovary syndrome). If this is the case, the acne will not clear until the medical condition is treated.

Do not be discouraged if over-the-counter treatments and good skin care fail. A visit to a dermatologist can often bring peace of mind and good results. The cause of your acne can be verified and underlying medical conditions either confirmed or ruled out. There are many effective treatments for adult acne, not all of which involve prescriptions. In addition to a diverse array of topical and oral medications, various chemical peels and light treatments have been shown to be effective. Take steps now to get your adult acne under control. You’ll reduce the chance of scarring and regain your self-confidence for a better quality of life.

Start with these seven tips:

1. No popping, squeezing, or picking! These habits will only make acne worse, prolonging the duration of any bump and potentially leading to scarring.
2. Begin gentle skin care with a mild cleanser, possibly containing salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. Limit cleansing to twice a day and following exercise.
3. Avoid facial scrubs, abrasive cleansers or rubbing alcohol. These products make acne worse by irritating the skin and also may diminish the effectiveness of topical prescription medication.
4. Apply topical acne medications to the entire acne-prone area, not just the acne bump.
5. Always apply acne medications to clean, dry skin.
6. Wash oily hair daily, and avoid greasy hair care products as much as possible.
7. Don’t worry about your diet—at least as far as acne is concerned. Diet has never been proven to trigger acne.

Written by Keith W. Schumann