Adult Acne Facts

Most people expect to do battle with acne when they are in their teen years. But what happens when in adulthood you are still fighting with adult acne? There are a variety of reasons why one still suffers with adult acne and there are things you can do in order to lessen the impact that adult acne has on your life.

Blackheads

Adult acne usually starts with the formation of blackheads. Most people are under the mistaken impression that blackheads are caused by dirt. They are really caused by dead cells and oil that get trapped within your pores. They actually block the duct and when mixed with bacteria they only turn black when they are exposed to the air. Pimples that are red are created when the blackhead becomes inflamed and will spread when you touch them with your hands that are often dirty. An infected pimple can develop into a whitehead also referred to as a pustule and when these break this is what can cause scarring.

How to Avoid Blackheads

When you are washing your face it is recommended that you do not scrub too hard. This causes the skin to become inflamed. If you are going to use an exfoliant then use one that is gentle and not grainy. Using products that contain alpha hydroxy acids can also help but they may be too harsh for many types of skin.

What are the Causes of Adult Acne?

There are many reasons that you may be suffering with adult acne. Some of the causes may be taking birth control pills, fluctuation in hormones, using poor cosmetics and of course stress may be a major cause. When you are under stress it causes the glands that produce oil to overcompensate. When you use cheap cosmetics on your face it can lead to pores that become laden with bacteria. Sebaceous glands overact when hormones are the culprit and if you use birth control pills that contain androgen; this too can cause your skin to breakout.

Adult Acne Myths

Many people are under the impression that foods such as chocolate and cheese can cause adult acne. No one knows the exact causes of adult acne but they do know that it is not certain foods that cause it. Acne is not considered a disease instead it is a skin condition and taking care of your skin with the proper products will go a long way to keeping it under control and healing the acne spots that you may already have.

Adult acne is not treated in the same manner as acne that plagues teenagers. Using products that worked while you were in adolescence will not often work on adult skin. The best way to combat adult acne is to find an adult acne treatment system that works for you and stick with it. There are quite a few treatment systems that can have your adult acne completely cleared up if you find just the right system for your skin.