Adult Acne Facts

If you noticed the acne you had when you were 15 has returned in your
30s, rest assured, you're in good company. One in five women between
the ages of 25 and 40 suffer from adult acne. Here are a few facts
about adult acne and how to rid your skin of it:

Fact #1: Acne usually begins with blackheads Blackheads are not dirt,
they're actually the result of oil and dead cells getting trapped in a
pore where they block the duct and mix with bacteria. They then turn
black when exposed to air. Red pimples develop when blackheads become
inflamed and they spread when touched with dirty hands. When the
pimple becomes infected, it develops a whitehead or pustule. These can
break and cause scars.


Fact #2: There are several causes of adult acne These are: Stress, bad
cosmetics, hormones and birth control pills. Stress causes your oil
glands to overcompensate. Bad cosmetics lead to bacteria-laden pores.
Hormones cause the sebacuous glands to overact and birth control pills
with androgen in them can cause breakouts.

Fact #3: Cheese and chocolate have nothing to do with your acne Your
skin, however, WILL benefit from a good facial. Why? Because acne is
not a disease, rather it is a condition of the skin and a good
facialist knows exactly what your skin needs: Sulfur, zinc and camphor
masks, exfoliation, blackhead extractions and at-home follow-up.

Fact #4: Don't treat adult acne like the teen kind The products you
used as a teenager won't work on adult skin. Here's a 2-step program
for cleansing and treating your blemished skin:

Step 1: Pick the right cleanser. Look for medicated cleansers with
benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid.

Step 2: Exfoliate with a salicylic acid treatment which will clean out
pores. Just don't exfoliate too much or scrub too hard (see the
blackhead section above). Two to 3 times a week is perfect.

Fact #5: The dermatologist will clear your skin up fast Too many women
wait to see a doctor for their skin problems. If you have basic acne,
over-the-counter treatments with salicylic acid to unclog pores and
benzoyl peroxide to reduce bacteria on skin should do you, but for
serious acne, a dermatologist has an arsenal of products to clear up
your skin. Retinoids, antibiotics, azelaic acid and birth control
pills are all options. You might consider laser treatments, but these
are more costly (about $500-$2,400).

Tips & info cool women should know: makeup, diet, work out, nutrition,
acne and skin care: www.womentobeauty.com

Information and basic facts about acne. Let treat your skin correctly
when acne is on your face: www.care2acne.com