Acne
From Domicella's wikiStyle
Hormones likely play a role in the development of acne, making the condition most common in teenagers. But people of all ages can get acne. Some adult women experience acne due to hormonal changes associated with pregnancy, their menstrual cycles, or starting or stopping birth control pills.[1] Acne tends to run in families, so if a parent had adult acne, you're at higher risk. People can get acne into their 40s and beyond.[2]
Acne Treatment
- Wash your face morning and night with an acne-specific formula containing 2% salicyclic acid, to keep pores clear and reduce redness. Wait a few minutes for skin to dry completely, then follow with an allover salicyclic acid treatment once a day.
- Moisturize in the morning with an oi-free SPF 30 lotion labeled "noncomedogenic" (keep in mind that some acne treatments increase sun sensitivity).
- At night, dab on a pimple treatment containing no more than 2.5% benzoyl peroxide, which reduces acne-causing bacteria. For major zits, reapply in the morning, but don't put it on more than twice a day or the skin can crust, which can leave a red spot.
- Avoid grainy scrubs and other abrasive products; they can rupture pimples, prolonging their life span and sometimes leading to infection. Instead, once a week apply a mask containing zit-shrinking sulfur.
- Consider switching to mineral makeup foundation formula, which won't clog pores.
- For persistent acne, a prescription retinoid, such as Retin-A, helps prevent blocked pores, but doctors warn it can exacerbate the redness of existing pimples, so avoid slathering it over full-blown ones.
- Anything you put on your face has the potential to clog pores. Look for oil-free makeup, sunscreens, and other skin products. Non-comedogenic and nonacnegenic products can be better for acne-prone skin. You might also try using powder cosmetics instead of cream foundations.
- Stress is not considered a main cause of acne. More often, your acne may increase your stress levels. Effective acne treatment may actually help reduce your stress. However, in some people, stress can worsen acne.
- There's no scientific proof that eating chocolate, sugar, or greasy food causes acne. However, if it seems that certain foods trigger breakouts, avoid them.
- Avoid touching your face. Touching your face can increase oiliness, irritate your skin, and encourage the growth of bacteria. Develop a hands-off policy.
- Keep oily hair off your skin. And look for oil-free hair products. Oily hair care products can get on your face and clog pores.
It takes skin about four weeks to adjust to most acne treatments, and it can be more sensitive to the sun during that time.[4]
Acne Scars Treatment
Treatment may improve and even remove acne scars. Sometimes a combination of treatments works best. These treatments include:
- Collagen injections, which smooth the skin by plumping the skin under the scar.
- Dermabrasion or microdermabrasion, which uses a whirling wire brush to skim off scar tissue.
- Laser resurfacing, which uses a carefully controlled laser to burn away scar tissue.
- Chemabrasion, which uses chemicals to peel away top layers of skin.
References
- ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/acne/DS00169
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/acne/adult-10/slideshow-adult-acne
- ↑ "Master Class" Allure. October 2009: page 75.
- ↑ "Breakouts" Allure. July 2010: page 40.
- ↑ http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/acne/acne-vulgaris-treatment-overview
