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.
Most adults that get acne will try almost anything to get rid of it, and they often try scores of treatments before they find one that works. If you’ve done this, you probably wonder if your acne will ever go away. If you’ll just read a little further, you might have some of your questions answered.
Many think of acne as a problem that only affects teenagers, but the truth is, it can persist into your thirties, and some even have it when they reach 40. Any case of acne that hasn’t cleared up for good by the time you reach your mid-twenties is considered to be persistent. Adult acne often comes with deep, tender and irritated large nodules, and it is far more common in women. Persistent adult acne usually crops up on the lower part of the face- usually around the mouth, chin, and jaw line.
Adult acne is, by definition, late onset. Women are a lot more likely than men to get it, too. Those that haven’t had acne since adolescence (or even those who have NEVER had acne) can be affected. Late onset acne can be triggered by a hormone fluctuation, such as menopause.
No matter when you get it, your acne has a root cause- overstimulation of the oil glands in your skin, and pores that are clogged with bacteria and dead skin cells. Those hormone fluctuations that we mentioned can bring about the production of too much sebum- which can explain why a lot of women get acne flare-ups right around the start of their menstrual cycle, or when they are expecting a baby.
Certain medications can trigger acne outbreaks. Women on contraceptives can either see their acne get worse or improve, depending on the pill they’re taking. If your pill has both progestin and estrogen, normally acne will subside. If the pill only has progestins, acne can get a lot worse- as it also can if you stop taking your pills.
Many other medications can affect your acne. Anticonvulsant drugs and corticosteroids can aggravate a case of acne, but that is not a good reason to stop taking them if they have been prescribed to you. If your acne is a concern, talk to your doctor. If the medicine is necessary to you, talk to your dermatologist about other ways to control your acne.
It is known that acne has a genetic component. About half of adults who have acne also have an immediate family member (a parent, child, or brother/sister) who has it too. The genetic link isn’t completely understood, so more research is needed.
Still other studies show that stress is a major acne trigger, especially for women. Scientists have established a link between heightened stress levels and more severe acne in women who have demanding jobs. When the body is under stress it produces more androgens, that stimulate the sebaceous glands and cause acne flare-ups.
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’ve seen your doctor, and they’ve ruled out polycystic ovary syndrome or other conditions, your acne may need more aggressive treatment. There are a lot of effective natural remedies available. You don’t have to live with adult acne anymore- with persistence it can be treated.
