Adult Acne
Just as the majority of teenagers have to wage war against acne at some point, many carry the condition over into adulthood. Adult acne, in fact, is prevalent in about a quarter of U.S. men and around half of all women (up to about the age of 60) suffer from occasional breakouts.
Acne is very treatable, though. Usually, it’s not too much of a health concern—unless it’s not actually acne, but a more serious condition but it does take its toll on your self-esteem. You cringe at the notion of having your photo taken, and you could even loathe the very thought of going out in public.
One more thing should be observed about adult acne, as contrasted with the pubescent and teen-forms; adults tend to have much drier skin, and the younger crowd usually has oily skin. Therefore, since acne products are predominantly marketed towards kids, most of those products will only make your skin drier and more irritated.
Consult with a pharmacist in helping you to choose a remedy that will not only heal your acne, but keep your skin revitalized and moisturized.
Quick, effective tips
• Products, such as creams, should be retinoid-based, as well as one that contains a low-level of benzoyl peroxide (bacteria-fighting, cleansing ingredient).
• Also, Aguanil and Cetaphil are wonderful for dry, acne-prone adult skin as cleansers.
• A proper balance of cleansings, retinoid-creams and antibiotics (OTC or prescribed) will keep your skin healthy and blemish-free.
• Take a multivitamin that’s good in A and B-vitamins, Chromium and Zinc
• For the occasional trouble spot, apply an ice cube to the affected pimple, let it soak in for a minute or two. If it has yellow or white pus, soak it with ice, then use a sterile needle to pop it. Make sure, though, to have a tissue to blot it immediately and do not let any of the pus run—as another spot is almost certain to replace it.
• Toothpaste is another weapon that you can consider. Put a spec on, using a q-tip, let it dry overnight and rinse when awaken. Toothpaste is known to have a anti-bacterial quality, a drying-out quality and may prevent other pimples and lesions from popping up.
If you use concealer, make sure that it contains no comedogenics or lanolin ingredients. It’s in the best interest of healing the trouble spots to use a concealer that’s labeled “non-comedogenics” or “comedogenic-free”.
Another technique involves the use of tea tree oil, yeast and a large band-aid.
• Rinse your face, neck or whatever region is affected with a non-abrasive, gentle soap in lukewarm water.
• Coat the bandage with the tea tree oil (or you can even use a cotton swab, held in place by surgical tape) and apply less than a teaspoon yeast (active yeast) to the swab or bandage. Blot, but try to avoid mixing.
• Secure it over the trouble spots and let it “marinade” over the trouble pimple(s) overnight.
• If you haven’t figured this out yet, this method—of course—isn’t for widespread acne. It’s mainly for isolated cases.
Adult acne, if not treated early-on, can also leave nasty scars. They can range from small indentions, to deeper lesions. That’s why it’s so important that you recognize breakouts as soon as possible and take a proactive defense to avoid scarring.