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.
A lot of adults try many acne remedies before they happen upon a treatment that's effective. If this is the case for you, you might be wondering if you really have acne, or if it's something else. Read on to find some facts about adult acne.
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.
Regardless of when it happens, all acne cases have the same basic cause- an overproduction of sebum, combined with too many dead skin cells and bacteria in the pores. Overstimulation of the sebaceous glands can, like we said, be triggered by hormones. Many women break out right around the time that their menstrual cycle begins, or when they are pregnant.
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.
Other drugs can cause acne, too. Medicines like corticosteroids and anticonvulsants can cause acne, but you should never stop taking them because they make your acne worse. Talk to your doctor if you are concerned.
Most acne cases are hereditary. In studies, roughly fifty percent of adults who had acne have other immediate relatives that have it as well. Scientists aren't really sure why acne has a genetic link, but they are finding out more almost every day.
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.
Those with adult acne should be selective in choosing skincare and haircare products. A lot of hair and skin products contain a high amount of oil, that can lead to cosmetic acne. To avoid this, look for products that don't have oil in them (they'll usually be labeled "non-comedogenic" or something similar). These will reduce your chances of getting cosmetic acne.
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 don't have any serious medical problems, your case of adult acne can probably be controlled with acne therapy. A lot of adults that have acne don't get treatment for it, because they think it's something they'll just have to live with. While adult acne can be difficult to treat, it is possible to bring it under control and even eliminate it.
A lot of adults try many acne remedies before they happen upon a treatment that's effective. If this is the case for you, you might be wondering if you really have acne, or if it's something else. Read on to find some facts about adult acne.
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.
Regardless of when it happens, all acne cases have the same basic cause- an overproduction of sebum, combined with too many dead skin cells and bacteria in the pores. Overstimulation of the sebaceous glands can, like we said, be triggered by hormones. Many women break out right around the time that their menstrual cycle begins, or when they are pregnant.
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.
Other drugs can cause acne, too. Medicines like corticosteroids and anticonvulsants can cause acne, but you should never stop taking them because they make your acne worse. Talk to your doctor if you are concerned.
Most acne cases are hereditary. In studies, roughly fifty percent of adults who had acne have other immediate relatives that have it as well. Scientists aren't really sure why acne has a genetic link, but they are finding out more almost every day.
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.
Those with adult acne should be selective in choosing skincare and haircare products. A lot of hair and skin products contain a high amount of oil, that can lead to cosmetic acne. To avoid this, look for products that don't have oil in them (they'll usually be labeled "non-comedogenic" or something similar). These will reduce your chances of getting cosmetic acne.
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 don't have any serious medical problems, your case of adult acne can probably be controlled with acne therapy. A lot of adults that have acne don't get treatment for it, because they think it's something they'll just have to live with. While adult acne can be difficult to treat, it is possible to bring it under control and even eliminate it.
About the Author:
Author Jason Z. Malcolm has been researching about acne scars for a little over a year now. Right now, he's learning about the best ways to prevent acne. To learn more, feel free to visit us: http://www.myfda.org/
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