Age-appropriate Acne Care

In fact, post-adolescent acne is a common problem for both men and women. Although male acne tends to calm down after the teens, many men continue getting breakouts. The reasons are not only hormonal (male androgens notoriously trigger acne), but also stress (especially career-related stress - very common these days in our highly competitive job market), as well as improper shaving habits, says Seth Matarasso, M.D., who advises shaving down against the skin to reduce potential irritation.

Women's acne is also triggered by stress and by their androgen levels, which remain fairly stable throughout their lifetime, while their estrogen (female hormone levels) continuously fluctuate. That means their hormone balance slowly shifts in favour of androgens. So those who had clear skin as teens may find themselves faced with acne for the first time in their 20s, 30s or 40s.

Maybe these breakouts are frequent, maybe they're occasional, but "adult blemishes can often be larger and more painful" Dr Matarasso says. They can also be more stubborn, especially when cell turnover starts slowing down. This results in a buildup of oils and dead cells in the follicles or pores of mature skin. Breakouts in your twenties and upwards, when you're expected to present a clear face to the world, can minimise your adult credibility, points out Dr Matarasso.

While it's a myth that chocolate causes pimples, stress can aggravate your skin. By kicking off the release of androgens - hormones that produce a sticky oil in hair follicles - stress can be the culprit behind breakouts weeks before they surface. As far as the weather goes, breakouts are more likely to occur on hot, humid days because your skin can be aggravated by heat and friction.

The American Academy of Dermatology estimates that up to 70 million people in America alone will get acne in their post-adolescent years. But how to get rid of it? The teen spot treatments may not only be too harsh for adult skin, but they don't get to the root of the problem. Acne isn't just the pimple that infuriatingly appears out of nowhere to mar your grown-up face and drive you crazy. "Acne is a multi-phase approach" says Debra Luftman, M.D., clinical instructor of dermatology at UCLA.

It actually takes about two weeks for acne to reach the surface of the skin. That's why, when you start treating acne, it's normal to see flare-ups. Usually you won't start to see results until the third or fourth week. For this reason it's important to be patient with a new acne treatment regimen.

Acne begins when hair follicles get plugged by sebum, an oily substance made by your skin, In those who are acne prone, this oil gets trapped in the narrow follicle, causing cells to clump and form a plug - phase one of a blemish.

Phase two occurs when bacteria, which love the air-tight environment created by the plug, start feeding and breeding inside the pores. The body responds by sending white blood cells to fight these bacterial invaders. This results in phase three: inflammation - small pink bumps, pimples, and sometimes nodules and cysts. It is this inflammation that results in scarring, dark marks, and discoloration.

When does acne stop? Most people see their acne improve as they get older. However, some people don't get acne until they are in their 20s, 30s or even 40s. The bad news is some of the effects of acne can last a lifetime. The good news is breakouts and the signs of past acne can be treated with the help of modern science so everyone can enjoy clear, healthy skin.

Source: www.nuskinusa.com