Although acne is generally associated with adolescence, this nasty condition can also strike unexpectedly throughout adulthood. Because our complexion changes over the years the same type of treatment we used during our teen years will most likely not do the trick. Find out what are the main causes behind this condition and discover a few strategies you can use to get a clearer skin.
Acne can strike at the most unexpected moments, even when you're
just getting started with your anti-aging routine. Although
apparently similar, adult acne generally has different causes, so
the treatment will have to be different as well. The most common
causes of adult acne are: hormonal imbalances or fluctuations, a
hypersensitivity to androgens, stress, excess sebum, medication or
even using the wrong cosmetics. Moreover, it seems that getting
blackheads is an early sign
that an acne breakout is on the way.
Eliminating the causes of acne breakouts might be ideal , however,
it is not always possible. A good first step is analyzing your
current beauty products and making a few changes if necessary. Oil
free, non-comedogenic products are still the best choice for acne
plagued skin. But don't limit yourself to checking skin care
products only: hair care products can also contain ingredients that
might make your breakouts worse. Silicone-based products can also
affect your skin, so taking a break from them might be advisable;
look for ingredients with suffixes such as "ithicone" or "icate" to
be able to determine whether the product contains silicone or
not.
Choosing the right cleanser is also extremely important when
treating acne. When choosing a cleansing gel, make sure not to go
for products marketed to teens as these are generally designed to
control oily skin, while adults commonly struggle with drier
skin.
A product containing 2.5 to 5 percent benzoyl peroxide or one with
2 percent salicilic acid might be good choices as these tend to
beat inflammation while removing dead skin cells and bacteria. Make
sure not to wash your face more than twice daily and avoid
scrubbing too hard because otherwise you will do more harm than
good. If these products don't offer the results you hoped for after
more than one month, a product containing retinol, an ingredient
that will also help you fight wrinkles, can also be a good
choice.
Your habits should also be carefully analyzed as they can make the
situation a lot worse. The habit of touching your face frequently
or resting your face on your hands can be very detrimental when
struggling with acne. Similarly, although exercise can indirectly improve
the way your skin looks, if you don't rinse off perspiration from
your face as soon as possible you might be inviting acne breakouts
as perspiration mixes with skin oils clogging the pores.
Paying your dermatologist a visit is also a good idea as it
might help you solve your problems more efficiently. Aside from
prescribing an adequate treatment, the additional treatments that
can be done at the doctor's office tend to be more varied. Laser
and intense pulsed light treatments are also available if you wish
to treat acne scars or even breakouts.
These treatments, however, are expensive, so exploring other
options first is recommended.
Although factors such as your diet or other lifestyle habits might
affect the way your skin looks indirectly, they shouldn't be
neglected. Limiting the intake of processed foods, eating more
fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, healthy fats and
complex carbohydrates will help you combat inflammation even more,
thus improving your skin.
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