Acne not only seen in teenagers

Acne and adolescence

Most of us believe that acne is for is for teenagers. That is true to a large extent, because the hormonal changes during teenage causes acne. But acne does occur in adults and sometimes it is severe. Find out more about it so that you can prevent it.

Acne in adults- causes

Sometimes many adults who have no acne in their earlier years get acne. It is as if since acne had spared them during adolescence, it comes during the adult years. Hormonal changes during adulthood may cause more sebum production and resultant acne. The hormonal changes may be due to pregnancy in women, birth control pills etc. Some athletes and others take anabolic steroids to build their body. That can cause adult acne. Medicines such as lithium, medications for tuberculosis etc. can also cause adult acne. You will need to talk to your doctor and find out if any medicine is the cause.

Acne Mechanica

If you carry some object, or wear very tight clothing of synthetic material in such a way that causes pressure and friction on the same place for long, you may get acne during adult years.

Chloracne

Working with chlorinated solvents can cause acne. It is called chloraacne.

Acne in adults- treatment

Adult acne is more difficult to treat than the acne that occurs during adolescent years. Please follow your doctors prescription regularly and get rid of adult acne, otherwise it will not only affect you psychologically but also cause life long scars.

This article is only for informative purposes. This article is not intended to be a medical advise and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for your medical concerns. Please follow any tip given in this article only after consulting your doctor. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from information obtained from this article.

What causes adult acne

What causes this condition that seems to chip away at the very foundations of self esteem with an almost malevolent intent? The myth is that once teenagers cross the threshold from adolescence into adulthood, the anguish caused by acne will be permanently left behind. The reality is that there is no guarantee that adulthood will offer the safe, acne-free haven that so many teens long for. Statistics indicate that 25% of the male population is plagued at some point by adult acne, while 50% of females will similarly find themselves contending with the condition as adults.

It seems that no one is exempt.  Infant acne can appear on the faces babies who are only three or four weeks old, or even on the faces of newborns. Since so many are afflicted - adult and child alike - there's an obvious need for real information on acne skin care that cuts through all the myths and separates fact from fiction. 

Let’s begin at the beginning.

Sebum is the natural oil produced by the skin's sebaceous glands. For reasons that aren't fully understood, the pores of the skin can become plugged with sebum, and once plugged, bacteria and dead cells can become trapped in the pores, resulting in the lesions common to acne. Acne can be defined as a condition describing blocked skin pores that result in lesions.

The most common lesions are called comedones. There are two basic varieties of comedones: ‘white heads’ and ‘black heads’. A white head is an occluded pore that has begun to bulge outward from the skin due to dead skin cells, bacteria, and other contaminants that have become trapped inside. This bulging dome shape often assumes a white appearance. Black heads are simply comedones that have opened, exposing the dark follicle mass inside. Acne comedones are often referred to colloquially as "zits" or "pimples."

Microcomedones are a less common form of acne lesion, sometimes referred to as papules.  These are basically small comedones that form from localized cellular reactions to the processes that cause acne.  They usually occur in clusters and are sometimes too small to see.  They can be felt as a series of little bumps along the skin surface.

In more severe forms of acne, cysts, pustules and nodules and can form.

A pustule is like a normal comedone, but larger due to a higher amount of dead white cells, or pus, trapped inside the plugged sebaceous follicle.

Nodules are a more severe form of papules, extending deeper into the skin tissue and resulting in large raised legions that are usually inflamed and painful to touch.

Finally, cysts are very large fluid filled sacs that can result from pustules or nodules.

Though none of these forms of acne are dangerous or life threatening, they can leave scars and are sometimes very disfiguring.

What causes acne? This is a question that scientists and doctors still haven’t been able to completely agree upon. Today, most theories seem to point to a combination of factors that include genetics, hormone changes, and stress. For years it was thought that diet was a strong component to acne, but most evidence today suggests that hormones and stress are more likely to be the culprits.

Almost everyone will have some form of acne in their lives. Most people suffer from outbreaks of acne during their teenage years.  These outbreaks are associated with hormone changes that occur during puberty. It is equally common to men and women, and usually outbreaks appear on the face. However, acne can strike at any stage in adult life, and outbreaks can appear not only on the face, but on the back, neck, arms and legs.

The good news is that the situation regarding acne and acne skin care is by no means hopeless.  Acne treatment exists.  And while it might not be realistic to expect some sort of magical acne cure, there are ways to effectively tackle the problem. Once you can find easy to implement acne tips and information, there's a good possibility you'll be able to minimize your breakouts or avoid them altogether.

How To Deal With Adult Acne

Acne is common in teenage and during pregnancy, when it occurs on adults it is a very stressful situation for them, as the society does not approve acne or adults.  Some adults feel so embarrassed that they want to hide acne from other people’s sight.  Studies have shown some growing evidence on acne, that it can be a hereditary disease too apart from occurring due to hormonal imbalances.  It is due to oil production and mismanagement of dead cells exfoliation.  Acne lesions in adults are normally seen on the face, but might also occur anytime on the chest, neck, back, scalp, legs, upper arms and even shoulders.  Adult acne is very persistent when compared to teen acne, as acne seen in teens subsides over time when the hormones get adjusted.  Another major drawback of adult acne is that it leads to permanent scarring.

Key Factors That Contribute to adult acne:

Hormones are considered as the main culprit and mainly cause skin eruptions or outbreak of acne.  But, has anyone thought about the organs that produce the hormones?  The actual fact is that the kidneys, liver and skin are the important organs involved in eliminating impurities and waste particles from the body, if anyone of the organs does not work properly and does not eliminate waste out the body, it might result in acne in adults.  Acne or the skin eruption is the first symptom of failure these organs are facing.  To facilitate the elimination of waste from body water is very important, when water is taken in good quantities the bowels are cleared and the blood too gets rid of its toxic elements.  If water content decreases the skin might not do its function of eliminating wastes, or the lungs might not be able to oxygenize the blood due to the impurities of air is breathed and retained in it.  Hence, the factors for acne may be air, food, emotional stress, water etc.

Natural adult acne treatments:

The wastes from the body should be eliminated properly to facilitate it the person should be exposed to pure air, water, natural food habits and, foods rich in antioxidants.  A natural face wash made up of clean, warm water with lemon juice can be used to pamper the skin.  The lemon has the ability to reduce oil from the skin, hence minimizing acne in adults.  Fiber rich food helps in the removal of toxins and wastes from the body by facilitating the bowel movements.  Also when using cosmetic products, care needs to be taken not to use oil-based cosmetics.

Acne Vulgaris - The Whole Truth

Acne vulgaris is commonly referred to as just acne. From the start of the teenage years, almost everyone will suffer from some form of acne. It is ain inflammation of the skin that causes irritated sores, commonly on the face. This can lead to low self-esteem, embarrassment, and depression so it is important to treat it and take care of your skin.

The cause of acne vulgaris can be due to a number of different factors. Stress, hormones, and pore-blocking dead skin and oil are some of the most common reasons that people develop acne. It is also an inherited characteristic that you could get from your parents.

Stress changes the level of hormones and neuro-active substances that cause acne. A way to treat this type of break-out is to take some time to relax and de-stress your mind by exercising or writing. Find something that you enjoy doing and practice it when you are feeling particularly stressed over something

Hormone changes that occur during the teenage years can trigger acne vulgaris to flare up. This production of hormones is referred to as androgens. They stimulate oil glands to over-produce and contribute to developing blemishes.

It is a common misconception that all acne is the result of being unclean. If this was true, most people would not ever have to deal with acne. When natural skin oil is combined with normal skin bacteria and dead skin cells, the dead skin gets forced to the surface. The greater the amount of oil that is produced, the better the chance it as of clogging your pores. Clogged pores are where bacteria feed to produce inflammation, which results in pimples. Washing your face cannot treat a condition that develops primarily under the skin.

The effects of having acne vulgaris can be long-term if untreated. If the condition is severe, there is a chance for permanent scars to form. Most teenagers have trouble dealing with the way they feel when they have break-outs. Social situations are avoided at all costs to prevent the embarrassment of a flawed appearance. Some people go as far as missing school because of the appearance of acne vulgaris. Severe depression could also result from unhappiness with the appearance of their skin. Self-esteem and self-worth seem to diminish completely unless their skin is absolutely flawless. There is not a guaranteed cure for these feelings, however, getting an effective acne treatment could eliminate appearance from being the cause of it.

Treatment for acne vulgaris is as simple as finding which medicine works best for you. Severe acne is usually treated by a dermatologist who will prescribe a medication specific to your needs. If the acne is less severe or occasional, an over-the-counter solution could be best for you. There are all types of factors that contribute to the development of blemishes so when picking out the right medicine, consider the specificity of your skin. If you notice that your skin is especially oily, then be sure that you use something that will target the oil. Blackheads and whiteheads are also a target area of some treatments available. To get the best result, experiment in finding what is best for what you need.

Cures For Second and Third Stages Of Acne

Acne grows in stages. If we allow acne to grow up to the third stage, it may burst and also leave permanent scars. To understand how acne may be stopped to grow up to second or third stage, it is important to know more about the later stages of acne.

Blackheads and whiteheads are first stages of acne. In the later stages they break out as papule, pustule, nodule and cyst. Let us find out more about them.

What is a papule - a papule is a slightly elevated lesion that is solid. Papules are generally less than 5 mm in diameter.

What is a pustule- pustules are filled with pus that contains dead skin cells, white blood cells and bacteria. Pustules are fragile and can easily break. Pustules are dome shaped and contain a hair in the center when they form over a sebaceous hair follicle. Pustules can progress to cyst.

What is a Nodule- a nodule is an inflamed lesion that extends to deeper layers of skin. A nodule looks like a papule and is dome shaped like a papule. Nodules can cause scarring as they damage the inner tissues of the skin.

What is a cyst- a cyst is severe form of acne that is filled with bacteria, white blood cells and dead skin. Cysts can be very painful and extend inside the skin damaging the skin tissue. Any acne that damages the skin tissue deep inside can form scars.

For the above forms of acne, it is always better that you consult a dermatologist and get treated not only to cure the acne quickly but also stop scarring as much as possible. Please remember that acne may get healed but scars always remain for the lifetime. It is better to get cured at an early stage to prevent inflammation and stop scarring.

This article is only for informative purposes. This article is not intended to be a medical advise and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for your medical concerns. Please follow any tip given in this article only after consulting your doctor. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from information obtained from this article.

Acne Treatments – Guide For Parents, Teens

Treating acne depends on the type and severity of your acne. Treatment also depends on how dry or oily your skin is, if you are male or female, if you are taking any medications, if you are pregnant or might be soon. These various factors affect your treatment options and can make any one size fits all acne treatment method ineffective.

Lucky their are numerous acne treatment options, so while you might not find one that works the first time, do not give up just try another. Do to the numerous acne treatments available today doctors can control most acne outbreaks; with greater success the earlier treatments are started. Hopping your acne will go away will not work, your local pharmacy is filled with many over the counter medications you can try, or visit your doctor who can prescribe more powerful treatments if needed.

The most popular way to treat mild to moderate acne is by using a topical treatment. These treatments can be in the form of a gel, cream, lotion or on a pad. They are applied to the surface of your skin, hence the name topical. The two main over the counter topic treatments are Salicylic acid and Benzoyl peroxide. Prescription Salicylic acid and Benzoyl peroxide are also available in stronger doses if required. Doctors my also prescribe ointments containing sulfur, tetracycline, erythromycin or a retinoid. Many times you will need to use a combination of the above treatments for best results.

Salicylic acid and retinoids are used to treat the clogged hair follicles that are causing the acne lesions. They penetrate the pores and help the dead skin cells dissolve. Benzoyl peroxide, sulfur, tetracycline and erythromycin are antibacterial ointments used to treat the inflammation and kill the bacteria in the blocked follicles.

For people with moderate to server acne, in addition to topical treatments they my also require some type of oral medication to treat their acne. The three types of oral medications are antibiotics, hormones, and isotretinoins. All three require a prescription.

Tetracycline, erythromycin, clindamycin, and doxycycline are the most common prescribed antibiotics. They work by being absorbed through the digestive system, then into the blood, and then into the hair follicles where they kill bacteria and reduce inflammation. This option would be used when topical antibiotic treatments were unsuccessful.

Hormones are an option available to treat teenage girls and women with acne. They are usually taken in the form of a birth control pill. They work by increasing the level of female hormones in the bloodstream. This helps reduce the production of androgen, which will then reduce the production of sebum.

For severe acne, isotretinoin is often used. It is a powerful drug that treats acne by stopping all of the changes in the skin that causes acne. It kills bacteria, reduces sebum production, and slows the growth of skin cells.

All of the above acne treatment options should be reviewed carefully prior to use. As with any type of medication they all present some type of risk or side effect. For the over the counter treatments read the product labels and warnings to see if the product is right for you. For prescription acne treatments discuss with your doctor all of the potential sides effects you may experience.

Ten Facts About Acne

First Acne effects almost 90% of the adolescent population. So you are not alone. Also it is not normally anything you have done, eaten or the way you wash. So you do not need to feel guilty. So let’s look at some facts

1) Junk food causes acne. Wrong! Pizza, chocolate, coke or any other junk food has never been proven to cause this. That does not mean to say you should carry on eating all this junk food. A sensible diet is good for everyone, and helps you feel better.

2) Acne is caused by dirt. Wrong!  Actually washing your face more than twice a day or scrubbing your face, with pads or flannels will make it worse. Acne treatment needs mild gentle soap and to rinse thoroughly.

3) Sweat will clear my pores. Wrong! A mixture of body sweat and oils can aggravate certain situations for some acne sufferers. Shower immediately after any sport and wear loose clothing.

4) Women’s Make-up can cause Acne. Wrong!  No scientific evidence has been found to verify this. Most products today are mad to stop the clogging of the pores. So this is not the problem. Do not wear make-up though when exercising as this can irritate the problem.

5) Stress Causes Acne. Wrong! To an extent. Stress can trigger off some hormones, which could aggravate the situation. But it is not the cause.

6) You Cannot Cure Acne. But you can treat it! There are a lot of good acne treatments on the market. See your doctor.

7) Sun can help. Wrong! It can in time worsen the situation in time. A tan might give the effect that your skin looks better, but it certainly will do it no good.

8) Spot Acne Treatment Works. Wrong! The whole face has to be treated. Most of the problems are formed under the skin. So treating the top of the spot is not going to do anything.

9) You Will Outgrow It. Wrong!  Acne is treatable. Don’t wait see a doctor ASAP.

10) It’s Only Cosmetic. Well Yes. It is not serious. But it can effect you, your self-esteem, and your confidence. So get it treated and become acne free.

Just a few words of advice,

Don’t pick or squeeze…Keep your hands off your face…Find something and stick with it…Do not over wash…Do not use flannels or hard scrubs…Lastly Good Luck.