Ah, the teenage years. Cheerleading stardom, homecoming bliss. Road trips with girlfriends, and that romantic first kiss. For some, these are the glory days. For some others, not so much.
For those of us in the silent majority who experienced high school as a blur of wardrobe malfunctions, social mishaps, and horribly-timed breakouts from a particularly vicious Young Adult novel, we are happy the past is, well–past. But just when we thought we’d outgrown all that loveliness, it’s back: at least the breakout part, that is.
Increased Female Flare-ups
According to recent studies and the American Academy of Dermatology, adult acne is on the rise–55% of adults ages 20-40 have some form of persistent facial acne. And the numbers are higher for women: the AAD reports that 54% of women over 25 have some recurring facial acne, and recent clinical studies from the University of Alabama and Massachusetts General Hospital respectively report that 25% of women between the ages of 40 – 49 and 12% of women between the ages of 41 – 50 suffer from clinical acne.
No one’s 100% sure of the cause, but the most likely aggravating factor is chronic, continual stress. Stress spikes hormone production, leading to an increase in oil production and acne. Breakouts can cause additional emotional upset, setting off an ongoing cycle. Add to this the more sensitized skin and/or combination of skin conditions found in adults (in comparison with teens who have more uniformly oily and resilient skin), and you’ve got a perfect storm of hard-to-banish acne. Making you feel like you’re sixteen again—but not in a sweet way.
Why are women suffering more than men? Again, hard evidence isn’t there—but common sense might suggest economic issues of past years have brought on additional workplace pressures. Add to this that women still traditionally earn less than men; that many women hold down a job and maintain the majority of household responsibilities; and that women’s bodies are more prone to hormonal fluctuation, and what do you get? More chicks with more zits.
Acne: More Than Just a Spotty Face
Acne is emotionally debilitating, especially for adults. We associate the condition with a time of insecurity and immaturity. When you are a confident professional with multiple degrees, a family, and a high powered job, a break out just doesn’t fit in. Not to mention, if your skin is unhealthy and you don’t like how you look, it can affect almost every aspect of your life. Productivity. Relationships. Other areas of overall health. Some adults who suffer from acne find themselves avoiding social events and activities they love due to their breakouts in fear of judgment. The skin condition has even been associated with anxiety, depression and higher-than-average unemployment rates. Even sporadic outbreaks have a high emotional cost. Studies show that an adult can be as profoundly depressed with one zit on their chin a month as someone with a face full of acne. In addition, these debilitating psychological effects hurt your entire body in terms of secreting more toxins and hormones than normal.
Adult acne carries considerable stigma. Breakouts can be especially embarrassing for adults because pimples are generally considered a “teen problem” and may wrongly be associated with poor hygiene or health.
Help, I Have a Breakout AND a Board Meeting. What Can I Do?!
As mentioned prior, adult acne is usually more complex than the teenage version. To successfully treat it, you and your doctor will most likely need to take a multi-pronged approach. Of course, each individual is different, but here are some possibilities to consider:
At Home:
- Reduce stress, and exercise. Believe me, I know these things are easier said than done. But if you think of this as a prescription, something you must make time for in order to heal your skin, it will find its way onto your schedule. Take even a few minutes a day for a walk, to garden, to read or to meditate. Try fitness classes that are fun (like zumba or kickboxing), and force you to commit and show up. Yoga is also fabulous alternative to bring down stress levels and increase oxygen to the skin.
Exercise breaks the inflammation cycle in the body, calming and cooling your system. You’ll see less redness, fewer blemishes, and a faster turnover of dead skin cells. Physical activity also helps to control hormonal surges: studies show exercise reduces production of DHT and DHEA, the hormones responsible in part for acne.
- Eat a healthy diet. Take the time to prepare or at least purchase fresh food with whole grains, a variety of fruits and vegetables, and lean protein options. When we try and ‘save time’ by eating processed foods with low quality nutrients that don’t support skin or overall health, we lose hours and days addressing health issues as things fall apart.
- Follow a regular skin care regimen. Keeping skin clean, exfoliated, hydrated, and protected is incredibly important when dealing with acne. Choose a AHA based cleanser that to clear dead skin (which can clog pores) and act as an anti-inflammatory. Consult with your doctor, and choose an over the counter or prescription topical medication (containing ingredients such as glycolic acid, benzoyl peroxide, anti-biotic formulations, and/or retinol) to help fight infection. Hydrate with a non-comedogenic, sensitive-skin appropriate moisturizer (if skin becomes dry, it will produce more oil and heighten breakouts). And remember to protect with a broad spectrum UVA/UVB sunscreen of at least 30 SPF; it is a myth that sun ‘cures’ acne. If you expose unprotected acne-prone skin to sunlight, you end up with sunburnt acne.
At the Doctor’s Office:
Your doctor and you can develop a multi-modal approach, that can lead to real short-term relief as well as permanent results. Laser and light technologies, together with certain peels and injections, can clear existing acne blemishes and produce truly dramatic effects—sometimes after even a single visit. Your doctor can advise you on the proper skin care mechanism to clear and control your acne, and prescribe both topical and oral medications—including the possibility of hormonal treatment to treat the primary underlying cause of adult acne: hormonal shifts. Once you have eliminated active breakouts, laser treatments, dermabrasion and/or peels can erase any changes in skin texture and tone due to scarring.
There is no need to be depressed about acne, irrespective of your age. Acne is completely curable when properly diagnosed. If you are one of the many adult women sitting there, spending hours applying cover-up, never fear. You are not alone, and we can heal your skin! Contact the board-certified cosmetic dermatologists at Ava MD to learn more about potential treatments for your acne!
To learn more about acne treatment, visit WebMD.com.
Next, Actinic Keratosis