Adult Acne - It's Not Just A Teens Torment
Do not be baffled to see a cool zit sprouting on your face in your 30's! It is a myth that only teenagers are attacked by acne. It can happen at any age. About 25-50 per cent of adults suffer from acne at some stage of their lives. Although the real cause is not known, experts blame hormones for it. There are reports that show a direct relation between hormonal imbalance and acne.
If you think that acne is only of one type, which we call acne vulgaris, then you are in for a huge surprise! There are many forms of acne. Let us look at what they are and what their typical characteristics are.
Acne Cosmetica Or Cosmetic Acne
As the name indicates, this acne sprouts up due to heavy use of make-up. If you have a habit of loading your face with kilos of make-up right from morning to night, then you are headed for a bumpy ride sooner or later. Do not shriek in horror if you see rash like bumps on our face one fine day. Therefore, ladies, go easy with the make-up. Remember; natural look is "in".
Acne Conglobata
This is a severe type of acne. It comes with a full package of prominent scars, skin damage, profound swelling, inflammation, and blackheads. It may appear over many parts of the body at a time. Medical experts have not been able to establish the cause of this form of acne. It mostly attacks males aged between 18 and 30.
Acne conglobata can be treated in many ways and it takes years to complete the treatment. You may require regular follow-ups and checks for recurrence. It is better to consult a qualified dermatologist for treating the scar tissues, which are a result of this destructive malady.
Acne Mallorca
This form of acne is the result of exposure to the ultra-violet rays radiating from the sun. It is characterized by a rash on the arms, neck, and chest. It is believed to be caused by molecules (free radicals) produced by UV exposure. These molecules damage the skin cells by reacting with the skin care products applied on the skin. It leads to inflammation of hair follicles under the skin, resulting in acne mallorca.
Acne Excoriee
This form of acne is caused by vigorous rubbing, picking, or squeezing pimples. Young women are the common victims of this type of acne. It is caused by the obsession to pick at real or even imagined pimples as well as blackheads. This is more a psychological disorder than a real one. Hence, the conventional treatments usually are not effective in curing this disorder. You may require the combined help of a psychologist and a dermatologist to cure your situation.
Acne Mechanica
This type of acne is caused by constant rubbing, friction, chaffing, and applying pressure on the skin such as wearing shoulder pads, tight or synthetic clothes, the strap of helmets, headbands, and any type of clothing that rubs against your skin for prolonged periods of time.
The treatment of acne mechanica starts with correcting the way of wearing clothes. Thereafter, you can apply a topical gel such as benzoyl peroxide. If you cannot help avoiding tight and synthetic clothes, then wear cotton under your clothes so that the synthetic material is not under direct contact with the skin. Cotton acts as a buffer and assimilates moisture.
In addition to this, there are other forms of acne such as acne neonatorum, acne pomade, acne medicametosa, and acne detergens. All these forms of acne require medical help. So, do not ignore that red bump on your face. It may be the beginning of your nightmare!
Can Adult Acne Be Prevented?
Well, this question is not simple to answer, as there is no precise "yes" or "no" to this question. There are a number of remedies that assist in preventing adult acne. However, not all factors are under your control. For example, you may keep the perfect hygiene, yet may suffer from some type of acne. This is because the activity of hormones or the environmental condition is not under your control. Sometimes, you cannot help prevent exposure to UV radiation.
Do not lose heart. Although it seems impossible to prevent adult acne completely, there are certain things that you can do to keep the acne from getting worse. Let us see what they are.
Tips To Prevent Adult Acne From Getting Worse
- Always use skin care products that are suitable to your skin type and that you are familiar with. For example, buying a mild cleanser from a drug store is more reliable than from a fancy cosmetic store.
- Do not get tempted by the attractive new creams and lotions that the salesperson pops in front of you. Using strange products is a risk.
- If you sweat a lot, then you should shower immediately after you are done. One of the causes of adult acne is heavy sweating. Wear loose clothes so that your body can breathe.
- Refrain from touching your face. The oil on your hands may contain bacteria, which are transferred to your face. It is a general tendency for people to rub or touch face and they think this to be a trivial matter. On the contrary, sometimes this proves to be the major cause of outbreak!
Photodynamic Therapy
The Photodynamic therapy is an FDA-approved therapy. It kills acne-causing bacteria by using blue light. As per the report released by the American Academy of Dermatology in 2004, you require to take three sittings to get an 83 per cent decrease in acne!
Once you take this treatment, it takes about a month for the results to appear. In addition, after the treatment, you cannot venture out in the sun for a couple of days. Moreover, if you simply cannot avoid the sun, then you must cover up well. Hence, you will have to reshuffle your schedule before taking this treatment. The photodynamic therapy is regarded as one of the excellent treatments for acne. Consult your dermatologist about it.
You do not have to sit with a long face if you have acne. There are many remedies available. Pick the one that suits you. Act now!