Skin care for adult women with acne

Acne affects some 25% of men and 50% of women at some point in their adult lives. The treatment of acne can be difficult for some women who also want to pay attention to moisturizing their skin.

Acne in women can be brought on by many different factors. Some are easy to figure out. The use of heavy cosmetics can bring on acne. This is simply remedied now. There are many new cosmetics on the market today which are non-comedogenic, meaning they won't clog pores. Also foundations are much lighter than they used to be. Some powder foundations are now made with minerals, which are much lighter than heavy liquid foundations.

The use of some hair products can bring on acne. A simple and effective way to avoid acne due to hair products is to pull your hair back off of your face. Pull you bangs back so hair care products do not come into contact with your skin, especially during the hot summer months.

Acne in women can also be brought on my hormonal changes such as those associated with pregnancy. This means that the acne will go away after childbirth. Some medications can bring on acne. Some birth control pills can bring on acne. If you notice an acne flair-up after starting any new medication talk to your doctor.

There are many different types of acne treatments on the market. A spot treatment with a topical product, such as a benzoyl peroxide or glycolic acid may be in order for you and may be effective. If your acne is wide spread a visit to the dermatologist might be in order. He will have more suggestions and may start you on an oral antibiotic.

There are moisturizers and cleansers out now that take into account the needs of maturing skin along with being effective against acne. Remember, the over use of any drying agent on the skin can actually cause the production of more oil, and more acne, a catch 22. Make sure that you follow the skin care regimen suggested by the manufacturer of any product you use. Regular facials can help to reduce acne flair ups. The aesthetician will evaluate your individual skin care needs and come up with a program suited to them. It may take 2-3 weeks of following any over-the-counter regimen before you see a difference in acne.

Acne and teenaged psychology

When you look good you feel good is a fact without a doubt. No matter how people look at you & perceive your image, but all the grooming stuff you do is to look good. Everyone wants to portray him or herself as if no one was handsome or smarter ever. Especially people in showbiz and media in general are more conscious about their looks which builds up the self-regard in them is important than life.

Similarly, for teenagers looks are even more important than the person inside. This twisted sense of self-image can backfire and lead to some truly horrible results. More and more teens are suffering from depression. Young girls seeking perfection can become anorexic or bulimic. Some kids even isolate themselves and are extremely uncomfortable in social situations. So when acne strikes, how are teens equipped to deal with the prospect of looking “abnormal” or “ugly”? Teenagers can be cruel to each other, and to themselves.

The American Academy of Dermatology has reported that a staggering 95% of American teenagers will suffer acne breakouts at some point during adolescence. Some kids can hide milder cases with makeup or flesh-colored over-the-counter treatments. Some even use their hair or clothing – longer styles, hats, etc. However, sufferers of severe acne must stand exposed, with all their imperfections, for the world to see.

Since acne occurs so frequently in adolescence, blemished skin makes teens fear how their peers view them. Self-esteem and self-worth can be affected when kids are afraid of being judged by their contemporaries. Teens put up with so many anatomical changes that can make them feel “dirty.” It is particularly vulnerable time when kids worry about being accepted, and about the way, they look. Unfortunately, some parents can trivialize the teen’s fears.

Attitudes like “I went through it…you’ll go through it” and it will go away. However, when that first serious breakout happens…acne typically gets worse before it gets better…the teen may rationally agree that it is probably a passing phase. However, while it is “going away,” the teenager remains afraid of being judged by his peers, and serious self-esteem issues can result. These unsettling feelings about self-image can sabotage a young person already confused by this gateway to adulthood. This is a time in a teen’s life when he/she should get out and be involved in peer activities – but fear of being “different” is strong. Parental support can be vital at a time like this. Even when teen’s appear to “not need” your help, playing a gentle supportive role can help a budding adult’s transition.

Common causes of acne

What causes acne?

Worldwide there are about 60 million people who are suffering from acne. Most people develop acne during adolescence. It is most prevalent in those aged 16 to 18 years. The exact cause of acne is unknown, but doctors believe it results from several related factors. One important factor is an increase in hormones called androgens (male sex hormones). These increase in both boys and girls during puberty and cause the sebaceous glands to enlarge and make more sebum. Hormonal changes related to pregnancy or starting or stopping birth control pills can also cause acne.

The most common reasons for acne are:

• There are higher levels of sex hormones at puberty than in younger children.

• These hormones are converted in the skin to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) which stimulates oil glands to enlarge.

• The oil glands, called sebaceous glands, produce sebum. The more sebum, the more likely it is that acne will be troublesome.

• If sebum and keratin (dead skin cells) block the skin pores, comedones can develop.

• The wall of the follicles may rupture.

• Bacteria and comedonal debris cause acne pimples or pustules (inflammatory lesions).

Aggravating factors

Some people have particularly severe acne. This may be because of:

• Genetic factors (family members have bad acne). Researchers believe that the tendency to develop acne can be inherited from parents. For example, studies have shown that many school-age boys with acne have a family history of the disorder.

• Hormonal factors (higher levels of androgenic hormones) due to:

• Polycystic ovaries (common)

• Enzyme deficiency eg sterol hydroxylase deficiency (very rare)

• Excessive corticosteroids (eg Cushing's disease) (rare)

• Psychological stress and depression

• Environmental factors such as:

• High humidity causing swelling of the skin

• Cosmetics especially certain moisturisers, foundation and pomades (watch out for lanolin, petrolatum, vegetable oils, butyl stearate, lauryl alcohol and oleic acid)

• Petroleum oils.

• Pressure from headbands & chin straps (eg: "fiddler's neck").

• Pressure from sports helmets or equipment, backpacks, tight collars, or tight sports uniforms

• Stress can also cause the production of hormones, such as cortisol, which can aggravate acne. Stress brings upon different hormone levels. With hormone changes the body prompts the skins oil glands to enlarge, secreting more oil. Which causes white heads, black heads and pimples.

• Certain medications. Vitamins are good for your body, But an excess of vitamins B1, B6 and B12 can cause acne flare-ups. These vitamins are good for the skin, but avoid overuse.

• Picking and squeezing can actually send the infection deeper into the skin and can cause scarring.

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Do i need to stop my acne skin care regimen during pregnancy

Pregnancy usually brings along with it a host of medical concerns which prompt behavioral and lifestyle changes. It is common knowledge that pregnant women should avoid smoking and drinking, not to mention some excessively physical activities. But there are also a host of other medicines and procedures which should be avoided during pregnancy. So, the question is, how does pregnancy affect acne skin care regimens?

Many acne medicines are quite explicit about the fact that you should not use them during pregnancy. Roaccutane and Accutane are certainly among these. For those of us that have used the products, the medicine packaging picturing a pregnant woman with an ‘X’ over her sent a strong message that they should not be used if you are, or might become pregnant. There are other medicines, such as Tetracycline tablets and topical retinoids such as Tretinoin and Adapalene which can have detrimental effects on the bones and teeth of developing fetuses. While these medicines should clearly be avoided because of the detrimental effects they have on your baby, there are other medicines which should potentially be stopped simply because they are no longer appropriate when pregnant.

Pregnancy is often associated with a period of drier than normal skin. As a result, a number of acne medicines which are designed specifically to dry out the skin, namely benzoyl peroxide cream or gel may no longer be appropriate.

But does this mean that there are no acne skin care regimens that can be followed? Absolutely not. There are in fact a number of milder and often natural solutions which can contribute to healthier acne free skin which either have no, or even positive effects on your child. To replace harsh creams or gels designed to dry out the skin, an excellent alternative is tea tree oil. A milder facial wash can also provide the cleansing effect of an acne wash without over-drying your skin, which is naturally drier due to pregnancy. But because you may be giving up some of the acne fighting power by switching over to a milder wash, it is a good idea to supplement your acne fighting regimen with some natural clay masks such as Kaolin and Bentonite which will absorb oil and clear blocked pores naturally.

The second avenue through which pregnant women can clear up their skin while positively affecting the health of the child, is through their diet. By consuming higher quantities of raw vegetables, whose antioxidant properties serve to take free radicals (also referred to as bacteria) out of your system, you can cut down on the amount of bacteria released through your pores. In addition, by cutting back on the quantity of sugars and refined carbohydrates that you eat, you will naturally cut down on the amount of sebum or oil that your body produces. This will keep your pores clearer and allow the bacteria which passes through your pores to come out cleanly and without causing infection and acne. These approaches, in addition to providing you with clearer skin, are a safe and healthy alternative to acne fighting while simultaneously improving the health of your child.