Treating Adult Acne – All You Need to Know About the Treatment and Prevention

Acne is not just common among teens, but is highly likely to appear when you’re in your 30s, 40s and even after menopause. Namely, according to a review of research, one-third of patients who turn to a dermatologist for adult acne problems are women 25 years old. Hormonal changes, bad dietary habits and improper face care are just some of the main reasons adults get acne. So, in order to avoid any future bumps in the road to your happy and carefree life, you’ll have to learn a thing or two about the lifestyle that you’ll need to embrace in order to fight off those nasty zits.

How do you get acne?

acne-pores-skin-pimple-femaleA mixture of dead skin cells, excess oil and dirt create a breeding ground for breakouts. Due to clogged pores, all the bacteria residing in or near your sebaceous glands will multiply and cause those red nasty bumps on your face we call acne. After you reach 20, acne will less likely appear around T-zone and shift a bit south to your chin, jawline, and neck. Hormonal fluctuations are one of the main reasons you deal with adult acne. The hormonal changes can be caused by your stressful lifestyle, PMS, pregnancy, or polycystic ovary syndrome, but either way, your cortisol levels will rise, bringing more testosterone into the system, which will eventually cause breakouts due to excess of oil that testosterone promoted.

Switch up your face care routine

glass-spoon-cosmetics-cream-pinkIn order to clear up acne, consider combining benzoyl peroxide which will kill the bacteria growing inside the pores, and salicylic acid to clear out your pores. Start by cleansing your skin with a mild cleanser. You can also use a face-wash with benzoyl peroxide. If your skin is sensitive, go for a gentle face wash, then use a 3% benzoyl peroxide pad, cleanser or gel next, and follow with a .5% salicylic acid gel or a pad to unplug pores, reduce swelling and redness. Finish your cleansing routine by moisturizing your face to strip your skin of all oils and make your glands start over-producing more oils. However, make sure you’re using an adequate moisturizer. Go for the ones with oil-free formula, that are also fragrance-free and noncomedogenic. These types of moisturizers will be gentle to your skin and won’t exacerbate existing breakouts.

Visit a dermatologist

clinician-writing-medical-reportIf you notice that your breakout may seem more serious and your face washing routine didn’t help minimize them, you should consider visiting a dermatologist. You may need antibiotics or retinoids which a dermatologist can prescribe and help you face your acne problem. Alternatively, acne treatments at an aesthetic clinic can be an option. From medical deep skin cleansing to medical peelings, you can schedule your dermatological treatment at a renowned aesthetic clinic and fight the root causes of acne successfully. Acne treatments are safe and non-invasive, so you won’t have to worry about downtime or any side-effects.

Keep your phone clean

iphone-smartphone-apps-appleDid you know that your phone is swamped with bacteria? Just think about all the places you put it during the day, and you won’t have a lot of difficulties figuring out just how much bacteria can accumulate on a phone’s display. From keeping it face down on a desk (which is already a not so sanitary surface) to carrying it around in your purse, touching the screen with your hands that haven’t been washed from touching various doorknobs, money, elevator buttons and so on. It’s clear that you don’t even need to be stressed out or have an improper diet to cause pimples to break out on your face. If you do not keep your phone clean, it’ll be very noticeable on your face. Therefore, make sure you always have antibacterial wipes around you or clean the entire phone with a disinfectant spray at least once a day.

Regulating your diet will help

fruit-watermelon-heartChocolate and refined sugars are detrimental to breakouts. While they are not the main cause of acne, consuming too much chocolate and junk food can, however, make the condition worse than it originally was. According to a review of research, high glycemic load diets may exacerbate acne. Namely, as researchers think, it’s possible that high insulin levels from carbs are responsible for triggering hormone release that further inflames follicles and increases oil production. That’s why it would be a good idea if you stayed away from white bread, sugary snacks, bagels, white rice, potatoes and other foods with a high glycemic index.

Birth control for hormone regulation

pills-birth-controlOral contraceptives are known to bring more balance to your hormone levels, which can be one of the causes of adult acne. Once your hormones are out of whack, your face will be one of the first indicators that you need to visit your gynecologist. Birth control pills will regulate your cycle and prevent oil glands from going into overdrive, which will in return clear out your face of those pesky zits.

Tea tree oil is a lifesaver

essential-oils-bottle-aromatherapyAside from benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, tea tree oil is also very successful at fighting mild to moderate acne breakouts. Thanks to the antiseptic properties, tea tree oil reduces acne-causing bacteria and helps reduce inflammation. Tea tree oil is one of the main ingredients in various soaps, topical solutions, skin washes, face cleansers, masks and various other skin care products. In case the all-over treatment turns out to be too irritating, you can only use it on stubborn pimples, and avoid applying it to the rest of the face.

Adult acne can be an even bigger problem than having pimples in your teen years, but luckily, they can be treated effectively. All you need to remember is that your diet can worsen the condition of existing acne, so try to regulate it. Make sure you use salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide to reduce swelling and unclog pores. Visiting a dermatologist and having acne treatment at a clinic can be a wonderful solution for stubborn acne. Birth control pills, tea tree oil and keeping your phone clean can also significantly reduce and prevent acne.