November 4th, 2009Treatments For Adult Acne
Author: MichaelGreen
Source: articledashboard.com
There are a number of treatments for adult acne. Although acne is thought by many to be a teenage disease, many adults also suffer from it. It might surprise you to know that up to 25% of adult males and 50% of adult females suffer from acne at some time in their adulthood. The acne can be a recurrence or it can appear for the first time. It can cause social embarrassment and depression. No one knows the exact cause of adult acne but it might be to do with hormones. If you are an adult and you have acne, the best thing to do is go and see your doctor who will be able to examine you and maybe your hormone levels too.
Whiteheads and blackheads are types of acne and might continue until a person reaches the age of 50 or more so it is vital to seek treatment as well as modify existing skincare regimens. To minimize the amount of oil on your skin while cleansing, you can use a microfiber cloth. Female adult acne is common between the ages of 20 and 30 and is often blamed on environmental and stress. Oil-based make up can cause blocked pores which lead to blackheads and women who lie in the sun tend to experience more skin problems that those who do not.
Dehydration and poor blood circulation can exacerbate adult acne so drinking a lot of fluids and taking sufficient exercise is important too.
Women suffer more from adult acne than men. A low dose birth control pill has been proven to work on some women. Ortho Tri-Cyclen is one example of a birth control pill that works on some women to control their hormones and therefore acne. Birth control pills do sometimes have side effects though so you need to keep that in mind before starting a course of them. Being pregnant can either worsen or improve acne because it changes the hormone levels in the body. There are other treatments such as antibiotics and a variety of creams, lotions and gels to try. One good routine is a gentle face wash (do not use harsh soap because it is very drying and causes more oil to be produced) followed by an application of 2.5% benzoyl peroxide. Gently rub in some mild moisturizer after this because benzoyl peroxide can be very drying.
High levels of testosterone can cause acne in athletes who are using performance-enhancing drugs or anabolic steroids. This type of acne can result in bad scarring.
Even though there are many treatments for adult acne, the best thing to do is always visit a doctor rather than try to get rid of it yourself, the reason being the risk of scarring. If it seems very mild, you might get results with an over the counter product but these can take a while to work. Also, because acne can cause social embarrassment and distress, it is best to get rid of it as soon as you can.