Stop Adult Acne Before It Starts With These Essential Skincare Swaps

Adult acne can be depressing and embarrassing, but nowadays there are a lot of treatments out there that can help. Some adults get acne well into their 30s, 40s and even 50s, with some getting acne for the first time in adulthood.

Causes

Acne is often caused by dead skin cells that are not shed in the normal way, due to excess oil production making them stick together and clog the pores. There are many other causes of adult acne including hormone fluctuations, stress, medicine side effects, genetic predisposition or even an underlying medical condition.

Treatments

Hair and skin care products

First of all, it’s important to ensure that any hair care or skin products that you use are non-comedogenic, non-acnegenic, oil free and won’t clog pores. All your products should contain at least one of these terms, as these products are the least likely to cause acne.

Oral and topical medications

There are many over the counter treatments for acne that can be applied topically, but if these don’t work and you have a lot of acne, cysts or nodules, then it is worth seeing a dermatologist. They can prescribe stronger treatments that are applied to the skin to kill bacteria or reduce the oil. These may contain retinoid, peroxide, antibiotics or salicylic acid. The dermatologist may also prescribe antibiotics, birth control pills or Isotretinoin.

Other treatments

Laser or light therapy to removes bacteria is also available on prescription, and strong chemical peels can treat blackheads or papules. Your dermatologist may also drain and remove large cysts that do not respond to medication. When the skin clears, treatment should continue for a period, to avoid new breakouts.