You thought you left the pimples, blackheads, and oily skin of the teenage years behind you. But now that you’re an adult, you never expected to deal with acne again. Sadly, that doesn’t seem to be the case. One day you’re getting ready for the biggest interview of your career or for a long-awaited night on the town and you spot it. Adult acne. It might take you by surprise, but it’s actually quite common. So, what causes these unwanted blemishes in your 20s, 30s, and beyond?
Attack of the Hormones
Hormones can be especially cruel during the teen years. They go crazy during puberty, which increases oil production and causes acne outbreaks. Women also tend to break out around the time of their monthly cycle. Other factors are at play here as well. We consume more foods containing hormones today than any other time in history. Throw in the stress and pace of modern life and your hormones can once again overreact. Reducing stress and eating organic dairy and meat products are two ways you can combat these effects.
Medications and Health Conditions
Some medications, such as corticosteroids, anti-seizure drugs, and lithium can contribute to acne in adults. For women, switching or stopping birth control pills can cause this problem. In some cases, your acne may be related to an undiagnosed health condition. Your dermatologist can help you determine the cause and formulate a plan of attack.
Chocolate and Greasy Foods Do Not Cause Acne
Did your mother tell you to lay off the chocolate or fried chicken when you were growing up because it would cause an acne breakout? It turns out she was only half right. These foods do not cause acne on their own. What they do instead is stimulate the sebaceous glands to produce more oil, which does cause acne. You don’t have to eliminate foods you love from your diet, but eating them in moderation is always a good idea. When it comes to chocolate, the darker types even offer surprising health benefits.
Professional Treatments for Adult Acne
Severe acne can leave scarring on your face no matter what your age. Our PicoSure laser attacks the scars by sending intense bursts of light energy to the deeper layers of your skin where acne originates. Many patients have noticeable results after just a few sessions. Each treatment with the PicoSure laser takes just 15 to 20 minutes to complete.
We also offer several products you can use at home to treat and prevent acne outbreaks, including Obagi. This is the leading skin care system recommend by physicians nationwide. If you feel like your current skin care regimen isn’t effective, you may want to consider making a change.
Please click here to learn more about our options for treating adult acne so you can go into the coming holiday season with confidence.
Dermatology Associates offers a full spectrum of leading edge medical, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology services from offices in Savannah and Vidalia.
