Adult Acne
Treatment
Just when you thought you'd finally got
through all the skin problems related to puberty, you wake
up one day and find acne. If you ask a dermatologist, you
will find out acne is not just a problem for teens. Fortunately,
there are some treatments that will help you fight adult
acne successfully.
Adult Acne Facts
Doctors say adult acne is a common problem,
but unfortunately an under-recognized one. Most people think
acne it just for kids, but it can happen in later years
too. It is more common in women than in men. Statistics
show that acne affects about 25% of all adult men and 50%
of all adult women at some point during their adult life.
At the bottom of acne lies the pimple,
which doctors call comedo. A pimple is a plug of fat, skin
debris and keratin stuck in a hair duct. When it is open,
we call it a blackhead and when it's closed over, a whitehead.
Whiteheads can cause the walls of the hair duct to rupture,
leading to redness, infection and cysts of acne.
Many people think that acne is a result
of poor hygiene, but this is not true. Both adult and teen
acne are caused by a combination of many factors, such as
excess oil production, faulty closing of the hair duct or
infection. Washing your face gently only twice a day is
actually much better than washing it more often.
Adult Acne Treatment
You can choose between an adult acne treatment
in a dermatologist's office or at home. However, squeezing
pimples at home often leads to infection and scars. Squeezing
pimples is also a very effective way to get your acne to
spread. Doctors, on the other hands, use special sterile
instruments to prevent infection, scarring and acne spread.
Another solution is to check your local
drug store for adult acne treatments. If you've ever tried
this, you know it's loaded with such products. With so many
options available, choosing the right adult acne treatment
can be quite difficult.
A great progress in adult acne treatment
has been the producing of the topical retinoid acid, a modified
form of vitamin A. Improved versions of this medicine greatly
reduce the irritation it can cause. Other acne treatments
fight against different causes of acne. They are sometimes
used in combination. Such acne treatments include:
Azelaic acid cream
Benzoyl
peroxide
Alpha-hydroxy
acids (such as lactic acid, glycolic acid and gluconic acid)
Antibiotic
pills (of used unwisely, they can lead to antibiotic resistance)
Topical
antibiotics (gels, lotions and solutions)
Contraceptive
pills for women
Sotret
or Accutane for severe acne
Accutane and Sotret have several side
effects, including birth defects. Women with severe acne
problems that choose these treatments should use alternative
birth control. Despite the side effects they have, these
treatments are probably the best choice for sever acne.