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Dealing With Adult Acne
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More than 20 percent of New Zealand adults are left wondering 'why me?' and 'how do I get rid of adult acne?' We suffer from issues that were supposed to leave once the rush of hormones from adolescence was over. So why then do we suffer from acne still and how can we get the clear skin we had hoped to have?

There are some common reasons
The causes of acne can of course vary from person to person but there are some common reasons for acne in adults.

Some females are very prone to acne around times of menstruation. Pregnancy can also induce adult acne due to hormonal changes. Menopause is another time hormonal acne can strike us.

A build up of toxins and chemicals not only in the skin but the body as a whole. Acne can be our body's last effort at getting rid of toxin build ups.

Some medications that are commonly prescribed throughout our adult lives can cause an outbreak of acne.

Makeup and other environmental issues can also cause acne in those of us with sensitive skin, that is regularly irritated (bra straps, backpacks, things of that sort).

Solving the problem

The first step to great skin is to drink plenty of water and get enough exercise every week. The reason that these two elements can help achieve clear skin is because exercise helps us sweat (which eliminates toxins through the skin) and the water helps us hydrate our bodies and move the toxins that may be causing our acne out of our systems.

Keep skin free and clear of pore clogging makeup and lotions can help as well. Look for products that are promoted as: non-comedogenic, non-acnegenic or non-pore clogging. This is not to be confused with products that are labelled oil-free, hypoallergenic, water-based, or dermatologist-tested. Oil-free means that the products contain less than 1% or less of mineral oil, so it is good for oily skin but not necessarily good at helping acne skin.

Adult acne must be treated differently from the greasy oil-slick skin of teenage acne. In most cases, if you put over the counter acne medication on adult skin the result is red, raw and peeling skin, which not only irritates the non-acne areas but can even make the acne areas worse as the skin tries to defend itself from the irritation.

Dermalogica has a range of skin care products that are specifically designed to treat adult acne. Dermalogica MediBac should be used morning and night giving the user round the clock acne treatment and prevention, yet is gentle enough to be effective without causing irritation and sensitivity. When selecting Dermalogica products it is always best to start with a professional face mapping, which can be done at a Dermalogica salon. Once the therapist has examined your skin they can tailor a programme of products to suit your needs. For spot treatment we particularly like the MediBac Concealing Spot Treatment which is formulated with Sulphur and Zinc Oxide to clear bacteria, and Salicylic Acid to slough off dead skin cells and help prevent further breakouts.

Herbal steam baths that are said to open the pores to help release the toxin build up. If you want to make your own steam bath at home combine two cups of boiled water in a bowl with five drops of essential oil. For acne skin good essential oils to use are tea tree, chamomile, lavender and rose. Place your face above the steam and a towel over the top of your head. Make sure that your face is ten inches away from the hot water. Inhale the scents and relax with your eyes closed for five minutes. After steaming, splash your face with cool water, then follow with a deep cleansing mask such as a clay treatment. Tea Tree oil can even be used directly on acne lesions to soothe and help the healing process. Dr Hauschka also does a herbal steam bath to help open and clear the pores.

Of course our last option is to see a dermatologist who can help us to determine what it is that is causing our acne and prescribe a treatment programme that can rid us of our unsightly problem. The thing to remember when we come to this point is to follow the doctor's instructions to a tee; after all, the doctor is our last resort. If nothing else is going to work, we need to try this one to the best of our ability.

Article by Rachel Goodchild