Acne - Not Just For Teens

• Acne can be a culprit for skin issues in adults.
  
  Acne does not practice age discrimination. Some think the condition goes away once the teen years have passed, but in some cases it can last far beyond those years. For some people acne disappears for a long period of time only to flare up again in middle age. The causes of adult acne vary, but just like in the teen years there are solutions to keep it under control.
  
  

What Causes Acne?

• Acne is caused by the clogging of a pore, creating a whitehead or blackhead.
  
  Acne is caused when a pore fills with sebum (oil). Sebum trapped below the skin's surface forms a whitehead. When it comes above the skin surface a blackhead forms when the air oxidizes the material in the pore. When follicle walls erupt, inflammatory or cystic acne can occur, which is difficult to treat and can result in skin scarring.
  
  

Adult Acne Challenges

• Adults face different challenges with acne than teenagers do.
  
  Adults have different challenges when dealing with acne. Older skin sloughs off at a slower rate and acne products may be harsher. There are varying causes of adult acne than in the younger years. While teen acne is mostly caused by hormones, hormones can also trigger adult acne. In addition to hormones there are other causes of adult acne.
  
  

Hormonal Causes

• Hormones, especially an increase in androgens, are a trigger for adult acne.
  
  Hormones are a major cause for adult acne. A hormonal change can be cause by the starting or stopping of birth control pills, pregnancy or child birth. Premenstrual syndrome and the hormone shifts of menopause are other causes. An increase in androgens, a male hormone present in both sexes is another possible acne causing culprit.
  
  

The Effects of Stress

• Stress from various causes can aggravate adult acne.
  
  Stress can be another cause of adult acne because it taxes the immune system. Androgens are a by-product of excessive stress, increasing sebum, and women produce more androgens under stress than men. Work, lack of sleep, not enough exercise and relationship problems can cause stress that leads to skin blemishes and periodic acne. Reduce stress to maintain a healthy complexion.
  
  

Choose Cosmetics Carefully

• Cosmetics, if not formulated for acne prone skin, can cause blemishes.
  
  The use of cosmetics and skin care products can cause acne. Some products contain too much oil or ingredients that don't agree with the changes to your skin as you age. Use process of elimination to determine which product may be causing the acne. Additionally, replace makeup brushes and applicators that can harbor bacteria after extended use.
  
  

Other Causes of Acne

• A clean pillowcase will in turn, keep skin cleaner, clearer and healthier.
  
  After prolonged use a bacterial resistance to antibiotic treatments, topical acne treatments or internal prescriptions for acne can also cause adult acne. Excessive perspiration and over-scrubbing the skin can also cause breakouts.
  
  

Treating Adult Acne

• Use an appropriate cleanser, exfoliator, toner and moisturizer to reduce and eliminate acne.
  
  Skin cleansing can help to keep acne blemishes at bay and prevent future breakouts. Cleanse the skin once to twice daily with a product formulated for acne-prone skin. Gentle exfoliation and a toner are also important. For adult acne an oil free moisturizer is typically essential as the final step of any cleaning regimen to balance the skin.