Adult acne – Tips from Experts to Get Rid of Them
Are you one of the 40% of women aged 20 to 40 who suffer from adult acne? It’s time to put an end to it! Dermatologist Nadine Pomarède and Juliette Levy from Oh My Cream share advice on how to banish those breakouts.
Acne in adulthood differs from a teenager’s – gone are the blackheads, instead red pimples mainly appear on the lower jaw of women or the back of men. Sebaceous glands tend to shrivel with age, which explains why acne is rare in people over fifty.
How do you treat adult acne? It all depends on the severity of your acne – for inflammation and lesions, antibiotics, either topical or orally administered, may be prescribed. Hormonal treatments may also help moderate acne, but this should only be done with a doctor.
If acne scars appear, laser therapy is a good option to reduce the appearance of hollow scars. For pigmented marks, an AHA-based cream may be applied in the doctor’s office. Another tip – whatever you do, avoid touching the pimples as this will only spread germs and worsen the scars.
Putting together an adult-acne care routine is important – use soap-free solutions, no leave-in cleansing milks, an alcohol-free toner and a non-comedogenic moisturizer. Also, exfoliate with a scrub no more than once a week.
Makeup can be applied, but ensure that it’s oil-free, non-allergenic and non-comedogenic, as well as being an opaque enough coverage for acne-prone skin. However, it’s important not to skimp on make-up removal at night otherwise more pimples will appear.
Though food may not be the direct cause of adult acne, too much sugar, fat, alcohol and smoking may aggravate it. Also, in pregnant women, direct contact with many anti-acne treatments may prove dangerous to the fetus, so be sure to consult with a doctor.
Adult acne can be infuriating, but with the right skincare routine and tips from experts, you can get rid of those breakouts and have clearer skin. So don’t despair – help is just around the corner.