Thursday, October 1, 2009

Acne in Your Adult Years

By Raymond Stark

In the past, parents would provide their teenagers tips for treating acne, especially since most dealt with the disorder in the past. These days, adults are instead interchanging tips with their kids. Acne has proven that it does not discriminate based on age. Adulthood used to be regarded as the gateway to clear skin, but now it is no longer the same story. People are lucky if they get a few years break from the disorder, only to find it return right before they enter the workforce. It can be frustrating trying to find an acne treatment as an adult, especially since skin care companies market their products almost exclusively to teenagers. Fortunately, eliminating adult acne is not a very tedious or complicated process.

In both teenagers and adults, acne occurs when the hair follicle becomes plugged with dead skin. Oil (also known as sebum) which travels up the hair follicle to the surface of the skin, remains trapped inside the hair follicle, feeding a multiplication frenzy of p. acnes bacteria inside. The body's immune system responds to the bacterial growth with inflammation, which surfaces on our skin.

Acne treatments are designed to eliminate bacteria and reduce the presence of dead skin that may clog pores. OTC products treat the bacterial aspects of the disease using ingredients like Salycilic acid and benzoyl peroxide (which duals as an exfoliator). Prescription products, on the other hand, take a more balanced approach, treating the dead skin issue with retinoids like Tretinoin and bacteria with topical medciation and/or antibiotics. Adults can achieve successful treatment with both over the counter and prescription products, depending on the severity of their acne. Acne into the adult years may prove more easily curable with prescription-grade medication as it tends to be more stubborn.

If you can remember what effective products you used during your teenage years, they may be worth another shot. If you never suffered from the disorder prior to adulthood, you should experiment with a plain tube of benzoyl peroxide for several weeks. If your acne is unresponsive, you should see a dermatologist. From there, the dermatologist will put you on prescription creams and pills to help combat the lesions. Laser treatments or dermabraisons may also be an option.

Adulthood can be much more stressful than your teenage years, and this is one reason for such a large prevalence of acne even in the older population. Adopting better strategies for coping with stress and a more consistent sleeping pattern can bring about good results. Reforming eating habits is another good way to tackle adult acne. Move away from processed foods and make healthier choices. The faster you follow these suggestions, the quicker you will get rid of your adult acne.

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