When we were teenagers, acne could be explained away as “growing pains”. So we waited for the big day when we would no longer be kids and the acne would finally be gone. But when acne lingers on into adulthood, skin broken out becomes a haunting – affecting our lives socially (and some say, professionally).
THE UNFAIR REASONS WHY WE GET ADULT ACNE
Disappointingly, the state of things now is that no one really understands the difference in the cause of teen versus adult acne. The same factors seem to cause both, such as overactivity of oil glands, acne-causing bacteria, clogged pores and hormonal fluctuations. In adulthood, fluctuating hormones can be caused by stress and inflammation.
Here are top tips from aesthetic doctors on how to deal with adult acne.
KEEP IT SIMPLE
Sometimes, too much of a good thing can actually be bad. Dealing with acne that never seems to completely go away is frustrating and sometimes we get over zealous with our acne products. A mild, home salicylic peel might sound like a good idea once every two weeks but doing it far too frequently or with a high strength peel may irritate skin and excerbate the problem. Instead, try Sleep Mode, an oil-free serum containing glycolic acid bathed in soothing aloe vera gel. This unclogs your pores overnight without causing skin flakiness or redness.
TRY A CLEVER FACIAL
Facials are often the first that people with acne issues turn to, but book an appointment for Clear Blue, a deep cleansing ritual which includes the I-Clear, the LED blue light treatment which has been shown to kill acne-causing bacteria.
Try the Clarity Program, a well-thought regime of ultrasonic deep cleansing and alternating blue and red LED photomodulation therapy to keep acne at bay.
PICK YOUR SPOT TREATMENT
You need something to fight off the bacteria that’s infecting your skin and causing those painful red bumps. Clear Bliss contains Clindamycin, a mild antibiotic which effectively kills acne-causing bacteria. Combine this with probiotics which has shown promising results for those with acne-prone, inflammatory or sensitive skin by optimizing your skin’s microbiome and rebuilds your skin’s natural barrier.
Keep your pores clear with Super Helper, a combination of retinol and fruit enzymes which keeps skin crystal clean.
For better control, try an acne-control program such as Purity Program, which uses both the Forever Clear Broadband Light (BBL) and the VBeam to purge skin of bacteria, redness and inflammation.
ORAL ACNE MEDICATIONS
This might sound like a joke, but while hormonal acne makes women more prone to breakouts, it also gives a few interesting options for treatment, such as the oral contraceptive pill or spironolactone, a drug which helps to block hormones that stimulate the oil glands. But as with all medication, these need to be worked out with your doctor and may not be suitable for everyone.