Adult Acne FAQs

Q. Adult acne is increasing. Have you seen this in your practice or do you hear it in dermatologic meetings?

There is no "absolute" increase in adult acne. Rather, there is an increased awareness of adult acne, and therefore a greater frequency in diagnosis. There may be a "relative" increase in the number of acne cases simply due the population demographics (aging baby boomers) and greater awareness of the part of patients.

Q. Is it especially women or men that have adult acne?

In my practice, I tend to see adult acne primarily in women. However, that does not mean that men do not suffer from adult acne. The factors responsible for acne, regardless of age or gender, are the same - heightened sebaceous gland activity triggered by a genetic predisposition, hormonal influences, bacterial activity, hyper-keratinization, and individual inflammatory response. Women may be potentially more susceptible to adult acne due to hormonal fluctuations, and possibly due to the frequent application of topical cosmetic products to the skin, improper product removal, or some combination thereof.

Q. What causes adult acne? How do stress and the environment (i.e. pollution) affect acne in adults?

Acne is caused by the factors above regardless of age. Stress can affect the skin by increasing production of cortisol, which triggers increased sebaceous gland activity. Increased sebaceous glands activity can result in acne in genetically predisposed individuals.

Environmental stress may also play a role. Sun exposure may temporarily improve, and then worsen acne. Wearing a sunscreen that is not appropriate for skin type may also result in adult acne. Note that sun protection is vital to protect the health an appearance of the skin, however a formulation that is appropriate for your skin type must be used to avoid acne.

A very "dirty" environment (which few of us are in) or wearing a great deal of heavy makeup will certainly influence the skin.

Finally, as skin tends to become drier with age, more women (and some men) moisturize. Even older women need to choose the appropriate moisturizer for their skin type. Too frequent application of moisturizing agents, or a moisturizer that is too heavy for that particular skin type can result in adult acne, as can the use of a sunscreen that is inappropriate for skin type.

Q. What are the new techniques for acne?

New techniques to combat acne include a variety of lasers, which work by either decreasing sebaceous gland activity or destroying bacteria in the skin. Time-tested techniques include topical or systemic antibiotics, topical or systemic retinoids, hormonal treatments (such as oral contraceptives), and proper exfoliation.

Q. I was spot-free during my teens but now in my 30's I'm suffering from breakouts, why? (Is adult acne different from teenage acne?)

The same factors cause blemishes whatever the age - excess sebum and dead cells clog the hair follicle where trapped bacteria multiply - and signal the immune system to react. However, men, women and teenagers have different triggers.

• In women, monthly fluctuating hormonal changes and other imbalances can cause flare-ups: these may trigger sebaceous glands in the region of the chin and jaw line. This is why birth-control pills are usually prescribed to treat blemishes, by decreasing the level of androgen production thus decreasing the secretion of oil. Women reach their peak androgen production in their late twenties.
• On average, men have ten times the amount of androgens than women have, greatly stimulating the oil glands. Men are more prone to breakouts on the body because body surface oil glands are more active. Higher androgen levels also mean that men may sweat more, especially on their backs, and their workplace and lifestyles can exacerbate the conditions leading to blemishes. Men reach their peak androgen production in their late teens.
• Blemishes in adolescents are caused by overactive oil glands stimulated by the surge in androgens at the onset of puberty. The cheeks, chin and forehead are more prominent in teen breakouts.

Q. What causes the red, pimple-like skin on the backs of my arms? (How can you deal with it?)

You most likely have keratosis pilaris, a hereditary condition in which bumps of keratin protein congregate on the skin of the outer upper arms. If they bother you, try using a Buf Puf and scrubbing the arms for 20 seconds while showering each day. If that doesn't help, your doctor may be able to prescribe a mild exfoliant. If the bumps are inflamed a topical antibiotic may be prescribed. But whatever works, you need to keep it up, at least intermittently; that's just how your skin is built.

Q. Can you wear makeup when you have acne?

Of course! Anyone can wear makeup, as long as you find the right formulation for your skin type. Clinique makes a number of foundations and powders specifically formulated for acne-prone skin. Superbalanced Makeup, Superfit Makeup, Stay-True Oil Free Formula, Pore Minimizer Makeup Clear Skin Formula and Clarifying Makeup Clear Skin Formula all work for oily skin or what we call Skin Types III and IV. Some products perform double duty, such as Acne Solutions Concealing Cream and Concealing Stick, which contain small amounts of Salicylic to fight acne as they cover. Always make sure that you are applying your makeup to a clean canvas and that you remove all traces of it at the end of the day. Use a three-step process to thoroughly cleanse your skin twice a day and work with an expert at the Clinique counter to help you find a range of products, both in treatment and makeup, that will be appropriate for skin with a tendency to breakout.

source from http://beauty.ivillage.com