Clear, glowing skin is something treasured in every culture. But for some of us saying goodbye to our teens doesn't mean saying goodbye to the zits and blackheads.
Adult Acne Can Be Treated
Adult acne affects 50% of women and 25% of men. Yet most people don't seek help as they think nothing can be done or that their acne isn't too serious. But adult acne can cause permanent scarring – and those scars just aren't physical, but psychological too as people battle with feelings of embarrassment, shame and low self-esteem. The good news is that there is much that can be done to treat late onset acne.
Adult Acne Mystery
Nobody knows for sure why some people develop acne in their 20s, 30s, 40s or even 50s. We do know, however, that acne develops when the oil glands in our skin produce too much sebum (an oil that the body produces to naturally moisturise the skin). Bacteria on the skin can cause the sebum to thicken and block pores causing blackheads, pimples and cysts. This process is aggravated by:
- Hormones: The hormone androgen causes the oil glands to enlarge and produce more sebum. Testosterone production also aggravates acne in both men and women. Fluctuating hormones can cause ‘once a month' breakouts in menstruating women and play havoc with pregnant and menopausal women's skins.
- Stress: Stress causes the release of chemicals and other hormones such as cortisol that can exacerbate oil production.
- Cosmetics: Cosmetics can irritate skin, cause inflammation and encourage bacteria to penetrate the skin. Harsh cleansers, oily sunscreens and even hair products can cause pimples and blackheads.
- Medications: Some medications can cause acne. If you believe your medication is causing your acne talk to your doctor before you stop taking prescribed medication. At the other end of the scale, the contraceptive pill helps acne and some women only discover they have adult acne when they stop taking the Pill.
Adult Acne May Be a Warning Sign
Adult acne may be caused by an underlying medical condition such as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), a common endocrine disorder or Adrenal Hyperplasia, an adrenal gland disorder.
Chocolate Doesn't Cause Acne
A Melbourne study found 70% of people think certain foods, such as chocolate, cause acne. There is no evidence to support this, however, studies show that foods with a high glycemic index combined with a high intake of refined carbohydrates (sugars, white flour, etc) may be linked to pimples (Source: Better Health Channel).
Nutrition Nourishes Our Skin
A nutritionist may recommend high-proteins, low carbs, vegetables, seaweeds, coldwater fish, whole grains, and sprouts to improve your digestion and rebalance your internal body system. They may suggest you avoid saturated fats, processed foods such as biscuits and chips and caffeine.
Naturopathy Helps Skin
A naturopath will use herbs to cleanse the blood and helps the liver to work more efficiently. Burdock, dandelion and milk thistle are popular herbs used to treat adult acne. They may also recommend supplements such as Brewer's yeast, chromium and flaxseed. Hot and cold compresses may also be used to soothe and rebalance the skin.
Homeopathy for Acne
Homeopaths take into account your whole constitution such as your stature, build, complexion and stamina. They stimulate the body's own healing capacity using homeopathic remedies prescribed specifically for you. These may include antimonium tartaricum for tender, painful cysts, calcarea carbonica for frequent breakouts, silicea for long-standing acne or pulsatilla for acne caused by menstrual cycle or poor diet choices.
Herbal Medicine
A herbalist will use a combination of herbs, which you take internally and apply topically. Herbal medicine can produce very good results, especially when used in conjunction with other modalities such as acupuncture and meditation. However, it is a slow process and requires commitment on your behalf.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture can be beneficial in relieving the acute throbbing and pain that adult acne cysts can cause by using a technique known as ‘Surrounding the Dragon” in which needles are placed about an inch apart to surround the acne affected area.
Meditation
A quick search on the internet will show up a huge amount of testimonials to the power that meditation has in helping adult acne. Why? Meditating and visualising clear skin reduced your stress levels while simultaneously increasing your ability to cope with stress in the future.
Whatever the cause of your acne it's clear there is an imbalance in your body. Many over-the-counter preparations sold are full of harsh chemicals and many that are used to treat teenage acne are ineffective on adult acne. But there are ways to get clear, glowing skin, naturally. Sometimes a combination of natural treatments works best. Once you've found the right balance, like your internal body, you skin will glow.
Originally published on May 17, 2011
