Acne is usually associated with puberty and adding another insecurity to the awkward teenage years. Unfortunately, there are plenty of adults that also suffer from embarrassing acne breakouts for a variety of reasons.
Most Adults Do Not Actually Understand Acne
There are so many myths surrounding acne that are proven to be completely untrue, yet most adults continue to believe them. Acne is not caused by eating greasy foods, chocolate, or having poor hygiene habits. Chocolate and greasy foods are not necessarily the culprits of pimples, but foods high on the glycemic index cause insulin spikes that do trigger oil secretion. Hormone fluctuations caused by the menstrual cycle, medications, or ovulation often leads to breakouts. This is why it’s more prevalent in adult women, with an estimated 50% of women between the ages of 20 and 29 being affected by the unsightly nuisance. Guys don’t get off easily either, elevated testosterone causes the same reaction, as seen on a lot of juiced up bodybuilders.
Not Every Pimple Is Exactly the Same
The initial reaction to waking up with a couple of pimples of a full breakout is to hit it with medicines and conceal it as soon as possible. A better solution is to figure out how to get rid of them for good. Most people can easily identify a blackhead or whitehead without much difficulty, but did you know that there are different types of acne?
- Blackheads/whiteheads are a pore clogged with bacteria and dead skin cells. They are simple to treat with a topical medication or through professional extraction. It will look irritated from the bit of trauma, but the good news is that the pore will be clean again.
- Papules appear at the follicle opening, but vary in size, are hard, and appear to be red without pus. Pustules are similar to a person, but they have a white or yellow pocket of pus that some know as the “head”.
- Cysts are soft, pus-filled, red, and can be extremely painful. Cystic acne should always be treated by a dermatologist because it is the most stubborn form of acne, and has the greatest chance of leaving behind scars.
Suitable Treatments Should Not Cause Irritation
A typical adult acne sufferer has experimented with everything in the bathroom cabinet and kitchen to clear their skin. Expensive treatments, such as Proactiv, cause most people to have a negative reaction before acne is cleared. According to Supermarket Distributors of America, medications containing salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide are the basic ingredients in most drugstore medications, and they can work great for people without sensitive skin. High levels of either ingredient may make the condition worse as the skin becomes irritated, red, painful, and flaky. Witch hazel is a gentler astringent that eliminates pimples and blackheads without worsening the condition.
An Internal Cause Investigation
The underlying cause of frequent breakouts in certain areas can be an indication of an internal problem or imbalance. Females with a lot of pimples on their cheeks and along the jawline are likely suffering from unbalanced hormones fluctuating. They may appear closer to the start of the menstrual cycle, around the time of ovulation, or during the first trimester of pregnancy. Forehead breakouts can mean that there is a problem in the digestive tract, perhaps from the intake of too many processed foods overloading the body. These are just an example of the possible causes for acne that pave a great starting place for clearing it up naturally.
Adults have plenty of things to worry about in life without having to deal with embarrassing, stubborn acne breakouts rearing their ugly head. An occasional pimple or two is little to be concerned about, but major breakouts can be treated and cured with the right attention. Every single person has a different skin condition so whether a home remedy, topical treatment, or dermatological assistance works best, it is important to keep trying until you find the best solution
