You may be surprised to learn that adult acne is actually fairly common. Everyone knows teenagers often develop pimples as their hormones kick in, but the assumption is teens will “outgrow” their acne.
For many lucky teens acne does disappear after adolescence, but for many, acne can become a frequent problem well into their adult years. We all know acne during the teen years can cause much embarrassment and stress; it can be even more psychologically harmful in the adult years. Imagine how discouraging it is for adults to see coworkers and friends with clear skin when they are still dealing with acne that was supposed to go away.
Acne in adults can be a continuation of their teenage acne or it can show up for the first time in adults. Unfortunately for some, acne can continue until their fifties and even beyond. Many women with a history of clear skin can first develop acne during pregnancy or menopause when their hormones change drastically. The challenge with adult acne is that it can be more resistant to treatment and is best treated with a multi-faceted approach.
Adult acne can be made worse by the stresses of modern life including balancing careers with family life, not to mention our unhealthy lifestyles and poor diet.
Many dermatologists report an increase in patients being treated for adult acne and many believe the stress and unhealthy lifestyle of modern life is contributing to the problem.
The androgens, or male hormones, are they culprits behind acne and it’s not surprising that cases are usually more severe in young males with high hormone levels and they are at risk for serious acne scarring. Women, on the other hand, generally have more mild forms of acne but suffer more often from chronic acne problems or skin breakouts during their adult years. Women are more susceptible to breakouts due to hormonal changes with birth control pills, pregnancy, normal menstrual cycles and menopause.
There is still much to learn about why adult acne plagues more people today and can be so persistent in some and not others. Many experts suspect environmental factors paired with the individual’s lifestyle can also play a role in the development of acne in adults. Chemicals in our environment, hormones and antibiotics in our foods, coupled with unhealthy habits such as smoking and drinking alcohol may affect the skin’s condition and resistance to acne.
How can you get adult acne under control?
While there is still no cure for chronic acne, there are many prescription and over the counter acne medications that can keep this skin condition under control. There are also new laser technologies that are promising and these technologies improve every day. Today there are treatments that can also improve the scars that severe acne can leave behind. It’s always best to treat your acne quickly and prevent scarring because these unfortunate reminders of past break outs can be difficult and expensive to treat. With all of the treatment options available today, there is no reason anyone should simply suffer from acne.
Don’t put up with breakouts…learn how you can have clear, healthy skin today.
Want to find out more about adult acne treatments, then visit Joy Byers’s site on how to choose the best skin care products for your needs.
categories: adult acne treatment,chronic acne,cure for acne,skin care,skin conditions,pimples
