Adult Acne Medication

Acne affects almost everyone no matter you are a teenager or and an adult. The misconception that only teenagers suffer through acne due to hormonal disorder is completely wrong. About 25% of men and 50% of women suffer through acne between the ages of 25 and 40.

As you can figure out from the ratios that acne is more common among adult women because Women suffer through hormonal fluctuations a number of times in her life, which is related to their menstrual cycle. Birth control pills, pregnancy, birth, perimenopause and menopause are part of women�s life cycle and due to the hormonal change that occurs during these periods they breakout very easily. The big difference in the acne of teenagers and adults is that teenagers usually get pimples in the forehead, nose and chin region of the face whereas the adults suffer through this problem in the lower part of the face that includes the cheeks, jawline and neck. Besides face adult acne also appears on the arms, legs and buttocks of a person. Besides hormones acne at this age is also caused by stress, medications, oily makeup and pollution.

Finding out the cause of your adult acne is very important for deciding the best treatment for curing it. Following are some common factors that contribute towards adult acne:

Hormones:
Puberty is the main cause of acne in most teenagers. The sebaceous glands that enlarge and increase sebum production during puberty over-respond to androgen hormones during adulthood causing acne break out.

Clogging of the Pores:
It is noted that dead skin cells within the hair follicles of the individuals having overactive sebaceous glands shed more rapidly. These when mixed with the surplus of sebum form a plug in the follicle-giving rise to acne.

Bacteria:
Acne as a result of bacteria can occur during any age and is common in all types of skin. When the bacteria clogging the pores are removed with the help of plugging, the excess sebum usually paves a way for the bacteria to spread rapidly affecting the surrounding skin and causing inflammation in the follicle.

nflammation:
The inflammation caused by unwanted bacteria causes pimples to become red, swollen and painful. This inflammatory response is strong among adult women, which is why Adult women usually have painful acne pimples.

Over secretion of Sebaceous Glands:
Extra sebum is produced when the sebaceous gland is stimulated by dihydrotestosterone. This increases the chances of clogging in the follicles giving rise to acne.

Treating Adult Acne:
Many adults try to treat acne on their own without consulting a dermatologist or a doctor. However whether you suffer from mild or severe acne a dermatologist should be consulted before you start using any prescription medication. A number of oral as well as topical medication are available which are used for fighting different factors contributing towards acne. These include:

Oral antibiotics like tetracycline and doxycycline

Benzoyl peroxide

Sulfur and resorcinol

Azelic acid (Azelex)

Antibiotics like clindamycin and erythromycin.

Topical retinoids such as Retin-A (tretinoin).

Accutane (isotretinoin)

 

Although all these prescription medication treats Acne fast but there are a number of side effects associated with the use of each one of them. These include:

Cause birth defects when taken during pregnancy.

Liver damage

Depression

Burning

Inflammation

Photosensitivity

Diarrhea

Dizziness

Skin discoloration

 

Besides prescription medications, adult Acne can also be treated by licensed aestheticians at spas. The treatment include:
Extractions:
This is also known as acne surgery in which the aestheticians at the spa safely pop the pimples.
Microdermabrasion:
This is a process in which the upper layer of the skin is removed to prevent acne and scarring.
Chemical peels:
Chemical peels containing salicylic acid or glycolic acid are used for opening pores, blackheads and whiteheads.
Laser or Light Treatments:
This is an expensive treatment in which different laser lights are used to fight against acne by attacking bacteria, oil production and inflammation.

Although much safer than Antibiotics, treatments carried out at SPA still give rise to many side effects. Extraction if not done properly gives rise to scarring. Side effects of Chemical peels include redness, blisters, infection and abnormal skin coloring. Laser therapies give rise to dryness, swelling and pigment changes in the treated areas.

The best and safe way of treating adult acne is with the help of some basic skin care tips which besides simple to use can make a big difference to your acne problem and have no risk of side effects. These include:

Gently Wash your face twice a day with the help of a mild cleanser.

Avoid sunlight and humidity as this increases the risk of skin cancer and wrinkles.

Avoid picking, popping or squeezing of the pimples.

Use oil-free cosmetics.

Eat a well-balanced diet.
Like all other Acne, adult acne is also painful and difficult to deal with. Starting a treatment in an early stage usually helps in addressing and combating the symptoms of the problem. It is also recommended that adults on finding a suitable treatment should stick to it as changing treatment too often leads to scaring. Some treatments need to be continued even after pimples disappear in order to prevent new ones from forming.