Adult acne tends to show up on the lower half of the face, whereas teen zits typically erupt on the nose and forehead.
Whatever your age, the driving force behind acne flare-ups is the same: excess oil! Whether you’re going through puberty, perimenopause, or menopause, hormone fluctuations increase sebum production. Then excess oil mixes with dead skin cells and bacteria, creating a pimple. Here are some strategies you can use to control teenage and/or adult acne.
Speed Skin Cell Turnover - Minimize dead cells on your face by using a retinoid cream to accelerate the rate at which skin is shed. The stronger retinoids are available by prescription only. As a bonus, these products also minimize discoloration and prevent deep wrinkles. If your breakouts are mild or infrequent, you can skip the prescription retinoids and use over-the-counter options, such as a natural, botanically-based product like The Clear Advantage Clarifying System, which can be found at www.ihd.myarbonne.com.
Unclog Pores - Thoroughly cleanse your skin, which removes oil and bacteria to slough off dead skin cells. Most experts say to use a cleanser with an exfoliating ingredient such as glycolic acid.
Stabilize Your Hormones - If you still have regular periods (or even they’re irregular due to perimenopause), taking birth control pills may minimize excess oil production by preventing wild hormone fluctuations.
Use Stronger Methods - If your at-home regimen isn’t working, you can supplement it with a physician-administered procedure. Isolaz, a hand-held device, is like a vacuum cleaner for pores by sucking out the oils and gunk. Doctors usually combine Isolaz with light therapy to kill bacteria lurking in the skin. The cost for this treatment, however, is $400-$600 and you’ll need 4-6 treatments.
Another option is blue light-red light laser therapy. The blue light kills bacteria and the red light reduces redness and inflammation. You’ll need 6-8 treatments at $400-$600 each.
Limit Sugar and Dairy – Studies suggest sugar and dairy foods may interfere with your hormone cycle, triggering excess oil. These theories are somewhat controversial but it is a good idea to cut back on sugar and dairy products.
De-Stress - Stress is a huge factor in adult acne – it’s why more women over 40 complain about breakouts, according to leading dermatologists. When you’re under pressure, adrenal glands pump out more cortisol, which in turn causes oil glands to work overtime. Exacerbating the problem is that stress inhibits the immune system, meaning when there is a breakout, it takes longer to heal itself. How do you de-stress? Exercise, get more sleep, maybe see a Therapist.
For more information on acne causes and prevention, visit our library of acne articles.
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