An Adult Acne Breakout Seems to Come at the Worst Times
Many adults get acne, even after they thought that they were done with it for good. It can be embarrassing and difficult to deal with, and it’s something that many of us face at least once. Over the counter treatments can be drying and irritating, and many may not even work. Things that worked well when you were a teen may not work now.
Most adults that get acne will try almost anything to get rid of it, and they often try scores of treatments before they find one that works. If you’ve done this, you probably wonder if your acne will ever go away. If you’ll just read a little further, you might have some of your questions answered.
You probably think that acne is really a teenager’s problem, but nothing could be further from the truth. Adults can and do get acne- some have it at thirty, forty, or even fifty. If your acne has not cleared up by the time you turn 25, you are considered to have persistent acne. Cases of adult acne usually have painful, inflamed, and large pimples. Stubborn cases of adult acne usually appear on the chin, mouth and jaw line, but lesions can also appear on the back and buttocks.
Late onset or adult acne is more common in women, although some men get it too. It is an equal opportunity condition, affecting both those who had acne as a teen and those who’ve never had a breakout. Adult acne is largely hormonally triggered, and many menopausal women get it.
Almost all late onset acne cases are caused by excess oil production in the sebaceous glands. This extra oil combines in the pores, with dead skin cells and bacteria. Like we said, hormone imbalances can stimulate the oil glands- which tells us why women break out at that time of the month, or during pregnancy.
Some medications can make acne worse, too. Many birth control pills are known to regulate acne, and starting or stopping them suddenly can have an effect on your adult acne. Pills that contain estrogen and progestins control acne in women, but those birth control pills that only contain progestins can aggravate acne.
Many other medications can affect your acne. Anticonvulsant drugs and corticosteroids can aggravate a case of acne, but that is not a good reason to stop taking them if they have been prescribed to you. If your acne is a concern, talk to your doctor. If the medicine is necessary to you, talk to your dermatologist about other ways to control your acne.
Acne can run in families, too. A recent study shows that almost half of all adults with acne had a parent, sibling, or child who also had it. This seems to suggest that adult acne has a genetic component, although how it works is not fully understood.
Acne can be brought on by stress- and women are especially susceptible if they are always trying to balance a demanding career with their home lives. If your body is constantly stressed, it produces more androgens (stress hormones) that stimulate the sebaceous glands.
If you have a stubborn case of acne, it could be aggravated by certain hair care and skin products. Many of these contain a ton of oil, which can trigger cosmetic-induced acne. Steer clear of those products containing oil- instead choose non-comedogenic products. They’ll not only help to control your acne, they also don’t usually irritate sensitive skin.
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’ve been checked for other conditions by your doctor, your acne can be controlled with any of the various natural acne remedies available. A lot of adults with acne don’t bother to seek treatment, and they end up needlessly “living with” the condition. Adult acne can be stubborn, but with consistent treatment, it can be reduced or eliminated for good.