Though acne is commonly associated with adolescents, it may occur on the chest, upper arms, face, shoulders, back and neck of adults as well.
Causes of adult acne are fluctuating hormones and/or deficiency of vitamin. Acne in adults generally starts with blackheads which develop as a result of dead cells and pores blocked by oil. The blackheads get inflamed to produce red pimples which may be burst by dirty hands to cause infection. It can then get associated with whitehead or pustule. Sometimes, adult acne may also be caused as a reaction of certain medicines with chlorides, iodides or bromides, or cosmetics or drugs with phenytoin, corticosteroids, trimethadinile etc. Exposure to heavy oils, greases, tars or sun rays may lead to acne. They can also be caused by stressful or hereditary causes.
Adult acne starts and often remains in the adult years. These adult acne are commonly in the form of acne rosacea, cystic acne and acne vulgaris. The acne breakouts in adults are often associated with stress which produces hormonal steroids in the body. These, in turn, are responsible for producing chemical substances. These appear on the skin in a disruptive way.
The first step of preventing and treating acne is to lower stress level. The condition may, otherwise, get deteriorated even further. Avoiding greasy ointments, glycol and vegetable oils, and using jojoba oil, tea tree oil, coconut oil and lavender oil in their place may be effective in the prevention of adult acne. Excess of fried and oily foods, sweets and spicy foods should be avoided. It is important to keep the body hydrated with lots of water to prevent acne breakouts. In order to avoid exposure to harsh sun rays, sunscreen lotion must be applied before stepping out in the sun, to effectively prevent acne. Regular physical exercises help to de-stress and combat acne causing bacteria.
There are both natural as well as medical treatments for curing acne. Natural treatments include two different face packs. For the first one, the ingredients needed are: 1 tbsp. sandalwood powder and a few drops of rosewater, which have to be mixed together to make a smooth paste. This paste is to be applied on the affected area and left there for about 20 minutes. This natural acne treatment is reputed for giving great results. The second pack requires yogurt, rose water, a lemon juice and lavender oil. All the ingredients need to be applied on the affected area and allowed to dry, after which they have to be rinsed with lukewarm water for excellent results.
Apart from these homemade remedies, there are some other medicated products. From mild to severe acne, Benzoyl Peroxide is noted to be very effective, and is available in the form of creams, lotions, gels and cleansers. However, it has some negative effects like dermatitis, dryness, allergic reaction, irritation etc. doctor’s opinion is important before using it. Doctors also prescribe antibiotic oral medications like minocycline, erythromycin, tetracycline, doxycycline etc. higher degree sunburn may be a side effect of these. Laser treatment is also very effective for treating adult acne, though it is a very expensive treatment.
Leon Jazy
