Adult acne is more common in women of ages 25 to 40. One in three adults having facial acne has acne on their body too. The possible causes of adult acne include stress, hormones, cosmetics and resistant bacteria. Women in particular experience flares of acne during premenstrual stages, more than teen age girls. Usually adult acne starts with blackheads. Blackheads are not accumulation of dirt but they are caused when sebum combines with dead skin cells and clog the hair follicles. This is the main cause of any acne. When the bacteria infect this site the situation worsens and severe types of acne are caused. Blackheads derive their color as they are exposed to air. Blackheads should not be scratched as it could cause inflammation. Blackheads should be cleaned using a salicyclic acid cleanser. If these blackheads inflame, they develop into red pimples. When pimples are infected they turn into whiteheads. These pustules can break and leave scars in the skin.
Sometimes, using birth control pills can trigger acne. Stress causes overproduction of sebum from the oil glands. Bad cosmetics can cause accommodation of bacteria in the skin pores. Hormones trigger sebaceous glands to be over productive. The androgen present in birth control pills can lead to breakout of acne. Adult acne should be treated with the right type of cleanser. The cleanser preferably should contain benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. Salicylic acid is effective in cleaning pores. Benzoyl peroxide helps in eradication of bacteria. Exfoliate two to three times a week. Acne of mild to moderate severity can be treated as said above. However, if you have severe type of acne, you should consult a doctor, preferably a dermatologist. Medicines over-the-counter may not be effective for treating your severe types of acne.
Your dermatologist may prescribe Accutane for treating your acne if it is of a severe type. The course of treatment with this medicine will be for about 5 months. Treatment with Accutane is considered to be very effective. However, if you are pregnant you should not take this medicine as it can cause birth defects for the baby in your womb. If you plan to get pregnancy you have to consult your doctor before starting this medication. Planning for pregnancy one month after stopping Accutane is considered to be safe. Severe types of acne are treated with a variety of antibiotics. Yet, many of these antibiotics have side effects including dizziness, nausea, irritation and redness. These symptoms, however, can be treated.
Besides treating your acne with medicines, you should also take balanced diet. Avoid fatty foods. Do not take much of sugar. You should drink plenty of water every day. Avoid staying in sun for more than 20 minutes. Use clean inner garments. Do away with bath soaps or detergents which you suppose can cause acne in you. Avoid stressful situations. Have adequate sleep every day. Eat lots of vegetables and fruits.
Very severe types of acne are treated with surgery. These types of acne leave scars on the skin. However, scarring can be treated successfully with topical medicines.