Acne is a common human skin condition which is characterized by blemishes.
It mainly comes as a result of clogging of hair follicles and inflammation by bacteria.
Overproduction of cells called keratinocytes combined with sebum form a plug that blocks the pores.
Increased oil production on the skin may increase bacterial growth that can cause inflammation.
Other causes may include hormonal changes and side effects from certain medications, some cosmetic products, pregnancy, stress, menopause among others.
Adult acne affects adults of all ages and gender but women are the most affected.
Acne mostly affects the skin with dense sebaceous follicles like the face skin.
It can also be found on the neck, shoulders, chest, back and upper arms.
The blemishes include cysts, blackheads, whiteheads and inflamed red growths.
The appropriate adult acne treatment depends on the individual, the cause of acne, genetics and skin type.
An effective acne treatment should aim at controlling abnormal and excessive production of sebum, preventing abnormal epidermal cell growth, killing the bacteria, normalizing and enhancing skin exfoliation at the pores opening and reducing the exaggerated inflammatory response.
Doctors always recommend a multifaceted approach of treatments, diet, lifestyle and behavior when dealing with adult acne.
Some of these approaches may include: MAINTAINING GOOD HYGIENE It is recommended that you wash your hands regularly lest they become a source of dirt and bacteria that will be transferred to the acne affected area once you touch yourself.
If it is the face affected, wash it regularly when you sweat using a face wash or mild soap.
You should also ensure that your clothing and bedding are clean by changing them regularly.
TAKING A WELL-BALANCED DIET Consume a well balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables and drink plenty of water.
Avoid junk food and sugar.
Some people with acne experience increased skin irritation after consuming certain foods.
Sugary foods may cause hormonal imbalance which worsens acne condition.
Foods with high saturated fats may cause skin inflammation.
DE-STRESS Maintaining good mental health is very important in getting rid of acne because stress is known to aggravate acne.
Some types of stress can trigger the body to produce cortisol; this hormone can irritate the existing acne.
Limit your exposure to stressful situations by involving in exercise or any workout activities.
This will have an added advantage of excellent physical condition and improved skin health.
Physical activities increase blood flow to skin cells for nourishment and waste removal leaving you with a healthy skin.
You should also have adequate sleep.
USING NATURAL AND OTHER HOME REMEDIES There are various natural remedies including vitamins and other plant extracts that are known to improve skin health.
Vitamin E increases blood circulation and flow to the skin cells.
Any natural supplement rich in vitamin E is a good remedy for acne.
Baking soda can also be used as an acne cleanser.
A toner prepared from baking soda and water minimizes the risks of pores clogging and blemishes.
Lemon juice is also an excellent natural skin cleanser.
Applying a mixture of lemon juice and rose-water on the affected skin and washing after 30 minutes may result to a blemish free skin after some time.
DO NOT POP PIMPLES Popping is only a temporary solution and might make things worse by spreading bacteria.
This can lead to more acne formation.
USING CLINICALLY PROVEN ACNE MEDICATION There are various known acne treatment medications available.
They can be used to treat mild to severe adult acne depending on the strength.
There are both over the counter and prescription medications.
Some of over the counter medications include Salicylic acid, Benzoyl peroxide, Resorcinol and Sulphur.
Prescription medication available includes Azelaic acid, topical antibiotics like clindamycin, erythromycin and sulfacetamide and local retinoids like adapalene, tretinoin and tazarotene.
It is important to carry out adequate research before attempting any over the counter medication.
Some of these products have a short-term effect but end-up worsening the situation when their use is prolonged.
There are also systemic medications for adult acne treatment.
These treatments work internally.
They can be taken orally or injected in the skin.
They are preferred when topical treatments are inefficient but are sometimes used in combination with topical treatments.
PROCEDURAL ACNE TREATMENTS These are therapies performed by professional beauty therapists or dermatologists.
They can be used to treat both mild and severe adult acne.
They are meant to be supportive and are mostly used in combination with topical treatments.
Some of the common procedural treatments include: -Comedo extraction-It often done by professional beauty therapists when carrying out a facial.
It involves removal of blackheads, soft closed comedones and milia.
-Chemical peels- Chemicals like Glycolic acid, Beta hydroxy acid and Alpha hydroxy acid are used to deeply exfoliate the skin.
Chemical peels combat acne by removing dead skin to open up the pores.
-Microdermabrasion- This procedure removes dead skin cells and loose dirt from the pores.
It is a surgical method that involves smoothing out the skin top layer by using an abrasive surface.
It is very popular because it is affordable and produces similar results to laser methods.
-Light therapy-This treatment involves either laser or other forms of light.
They reduce inflammation, shrink sebaceous glands or kill the bacteria depending on the form of light used.
There is a variety of laser and light treatments including Blue light, Red light and photo-dynamic therapy.
-Corticosteroid injections- Corticosteroids can be injected into cysts to reduce inflammation and scarring.
These injections speed up the rate of healing of lesions.
Photo-rejuvenation, laser resurfacing and scar revision are other available surgical procedures for treating adult acne.
CONSULT A DERMATOLOGIST Before using any of the treatment programs above, consult a dermatologist.
A dermatologist will be best suited to assess the condition and offer his or her professional advice.
Powerful acne treatments may have various side effects and are best prescribed by a dermatologist.
Lastly, one of the most important things you should have is patience.
Give the medication time to take effect because adult acne takes time to clear.
Stick on your acne eradication plan for you to see any results.
It mainly comes as a result of clogging of hair follicles and inflammation by bacteria.
Overproduction of cells called keratinocytes combined with sebum form a plug that blocks the pores.
Increased oil production on the skin may increase bacterial growth that can cause inflammation.
Other causes may include hormonal changes and side effects from certain medications, some cosmetic products, pregnancy, stress, menopause among others.
Adult acne affects adults of all ages and gender but women are the most affected.
Acne mostly affects the skin with dense sebaceous follicles like the face skin.
It can also be found on the neck, shoulders, chest, back and upper arms.
The blemishes include cysts, blackheads, whiteheads and inflamed red growths.
The appropriate adult acne treatment depends on the individual, the cause of acne, genetics and skin type.
An effective acne treatment should aim at controlling abnormal and excessive production of sebum, preventing abnormal epidermal cell growth, killing the bacteria, normalizing and enhancing skin exfoliation at the pores opening and reducing the exaggerated inflammatory response.
Doctors always recommend a multifaceted approach of treatments, diet, lifestyle and behavior when dealing with adult acne.
Some of these approaches may include: MAINTAINING GOOD HYGIENE It is recommended that you wash your hands regularly lest they become a source of dirt and bacteria that will be transferred to the acne affected area once you touch yourself.
If it is the face affected, wash it regularly when you sweat using a face wash or mild soap.
You should also ensure that your clothing and bedding are clean by changing them regularly.
TAKING A WELL-BALANCED DIET Consume a well balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables and drink plenty of water.
Avoid junk food and sugar.
Some people with acne experience increased skin irritation after consuming certain foods.
Sugary foods may cause hormonal imbalance which worsens acne condition.
Foods with high saturated fats may cause skin inflammation.
DE-STRESS Maintaining good mental health is very important in getting rid of acne because stress is known to aggravate acne.
Some types of stress can trigger the body to produce cortisol; this hormone can irritate the existing acne.
Limit your exposure to stressful situations by involving in exercise or any workout activities.
This will have an added advantage of excellent physical condition and improved skin health.
Physical activities increase blood flow to skin cells for nourishment and waste removal leaving you with a healthy skin.
You should also have adequate sleep.
USING NATURAL AND OTHER HOME REMEDIES There are various natural remedies including vitamins and other plant extracts that are known to improve skin health.
Vitamin E increases blood circulation and flow to the skin cells.
Any natural supplement rich in vitamin E is a good remedy for acne.
Baking soda can also be used as an acne cleanser.
A toner prepared from baking soda and water minimizes the risks of pores clogging and blemishes.
Lemon juice is also an excellent natural skin cleanser.
Applying a mixture of lemon juice and rose-water on the affected skin and washing after 30 minutes may result to a blemish free skin after some time.
DO NOT POP PIMPLES Popping is only a temporary solution and might make things worse by spreading bacteria.
This can lead to more acne formation.
USING CLINICALLY PROVEN ACNE MEDICATION There are various known acne treatment medications available.
They can be used to treat mild to severe adult acne depending on the strength.
There are both over the counter and prescription medications.
Some of over the counter medications include Salicylic acid, Benzoyl peroxide, Resorcinol and Sulphur.
Prescription medication available includes Azelaic acid, topical antibiotics like clindamycin, erythromycin and sulfacetamide and local retinoids like adapalene, tretinoin and tazarotene.
It is important to carry out adequate research before attempting any over the counter medication.
Some of these products have a short-term effect but end-up worsening the situation when their use is prolonged.
There are also systemic medications for adult acne treatment.
These treatments work internally.
They can be taken orally or injected in the skin.
They are preferred when topical treatments are inefficient but are sometimes used in combination with topical treatments.
PROCEDURAL ACNE TREATMENTS These are therapies performed by professional beauty therapists or dermatologists.
They can be used to treat both mild and severe adult acne.
They are meant to be supportive and are mostly used in combination with topical treatments.
Some of the common procedural treatments include: -Comedo extraction-It often done by professional beauty therapists when carrying out a facial.
It involves removal of blackheads, soft closed comedones and milia.
-Chemical peels- Chemicals like Glycolic acid, Beta hydroxy acid and Alpha hydroxy acid are used to deeply exfoliate the skin.
Chemical peels combat acne by removing dead skin to open up the pores.
-Microdermabrasion- This procedure removes dead skin cells and loose dirt from the pores.
It is a surgical method that involves smoothing out the skin top layer by using an abrasive surface.
It is very popular because it is affordable and produces similar results to laser methods.
-Light therapy-This treatment involves either laser or other forms of light.
They reduce inflammation, shrink sebaceous glands or kill the bacteria depending on the form of light used.
There is a variety of laser and light treatments including Blue light, Red light and photo-dynamic therapy.
-Corticosteroid injections- Corticosteroids can be injected into cysts to reduce inflammation and scarring.
These injections speed up the rate of healing of lesions.
Photo-rejuvenation, laser resurfacing and scar revision are other available surgical procedures for treating adult acne.
CONSULT A DERMATOLOGIST Before using any of the treatment programs above, consult a dermatologist.
A dermatologist will be best suited to assess the condition and offer his or her professional advice.
Powerful acne treatments may have various side effects and are best prescribed by a dermatologist.
Lastly, one of the most important things you should have is patience.
Give the medication time to take effect because adult acne takes time to clear.
Stick on your acne eradication plan for you to see any results.