Health & Care Guide

Acne is a hassle and an inconvenience for a lot of people, and it can strike when you least expect it. You can get it years after you thought you were done with it forever. Adult acne can be persistent and difficult to get rid of, and most of us will have to deal with it at some point. Those treatments that work for teenage acne are often ineffective for adults, and in a lot of cases can make acne worse.

Most adults that get acne will try almost anything to get rid of it, and they often try scores of treatments before they find one that works. If you’ve done this, you probably wonder if your acne will ever go away. If you’ll just read a little further, you might have some of your questions answered.

Many think of acne as a problem that only affects teenagers, but the truth is, it can persist into your thirties, and some even have it when they reach 40. Any case of acne that hasn’t cleared up for good by the time you reach your mid-twenties is considered to be persistent. Adult acne often comes with deep, tender and irritated large nodules, and it is far more common in women. Persistent adult acne usually crops up on the lower part of the face- usually around the mouth, chin, and jaw line.

Adult acne is, by definition, late onset. Women are a lot more likely than men to get it, too. Those that haven’t had acne since adolescence (or even those who have NEVER had acne) can be affected. Late onset acne can be triggered by a hormone fluctuation, such as menopause.

No matter when you get it, your acne has a root cause- overstimulation of the oil glands in your skin, and pores that are clogged with bacteria and dead skin cells. Those hormone fluctuations that we mentioned can bring about the production of too much sebum- which can explain why a lot of women get acne flare-ups right around the start of their menstrual cycle, or when they are expecting a baby.

Certain medications can trigger acne outbreaks. Women on contraceptives can either see their acne get worse or improve, depending on the pill they’re taking. If your pill has both progestin and estrogen, normally acne will subside. If the pill only has progestins, acne can get a lot worse- as it also can if you stop taking your pills.

Many other medications can affect your acne. Anticonvulsant drugs and corticosteroids can aggravate a case of acne, but that is not a good reason to stop taking them if they have been prescribed to you. If your acne is a concern, talk to your doctor. If the medicine is necessary to you, talk to your dermatologist about other ways to control your acne.

Acne can run in families, too. A recent study shows that almost half of all adults with acne had a parent, sibling, or child who also had it. This seems to suggest that adult acne has a genetic component, although how it works is not fully understood.

Stress is also known to trigger acne, and this is particularly true for women. Research has shown a link between higher stress and more serious cases of acne, especially in women that have stressful jobs and home lives. A body under stress makes more stress hormones, which in turn induce the glands to make more oil.

If you have a stubborn case of acne, it could be aggravated by certain hair care and skin products. Many of these contain a ton of oil, which can trigger cosmetic-induced acne. Steer clear of those products containing oil- instead choose non-comedogenic products. They’ll not only help to control your acne, they also don’t usually irritate sensitive skin.

Acne can be a warning sign of a more serious medical condition. When adult acne is accompanied by thickening facial hair, balding, and irregular menstrual cycles, it can be a sign of polycystic ovary syndrome, or an adrenal gland disorder. It could also mean that the woman has a tumor on an adrenal gland or ovary. If you are experiencing any of these signs, you should see your doctor as soon as possible. Testing can find the cause of the symptoms, and your acne won’t go away until they are treated.

If you’ve been checked for other conditions by your doctor, your acne can be controlled with any of the various natural acne remedies available. A lot of adults with acne don’t bother to seek treatment, and they end up needlessly “living with” the condition. Adult acne can be stubborn, but with consistent treatment, it can be reduced or eliminated for good.

Filed under: Acne