Adult acne: identify it to better treat it

If acne pimples are part of your daily life, this article is for you! Focus on the causes of this skin disease and the treatments that will help you cure it.

Remember! For most of us, adolescence was marked by a very common skin disease: acne. And the least we can say is that the appearance of the first pimples was synonymous with anxiety. The Larousse dictionary defines acne as being "a dermatosis due to inflammation of the pilosebaceous follicles, characterized by pimples (comedones, papules, nodules, pustules), mainly located on the face". Inflammations, lesions and appointments with the dermatologist have been part of our daily lives for a long time. In adulthood, the luckiest have regained baby skin. Others continue to struggle to get rid of blackheads.

Adult acne mainly affects women

According to the French Society of Dermatology, so-called late acne affects around 25% of adults. And nearly 58% of women between the ages of 25 and 34 are affected by skin problems. As you will have understood, women are more prone to imperfections than their male counterparts, especially in the face. The affected areas in men are the forehead and the back.

According to experts, stress, tobacco, pollution, genetics, hormones, the sun and diet are the main causes that promote the appearance of acne. Obviously, these effects and symptoms are unique to each person. In order to say goodbye to pimples, it is important to identify the different forms of acne to better treat them.

Adult retentional acne

Retentional acne mainly affects adolescents but also adult women and men who have skin oily. If this is your case, know that this type of acne results in the appearance of blackheads and whiteheads on the T zone of the face: the forehead, the nose and the chin. These small lesions are due to the accumulation of sebum – produced by the sebaceous glands – and dead cells in the pores of the skin, specifies the Ducray laboratory on its website.

Don't panic, there are many solutions available to treat retentional acne. At first glance, you should not pop your pimples or blackheads even if you feel like itching. This bad habit can cause serious damage such as the appearance of scars. Opt instead for a good scrub for acne-prone skin and favor exfoliants on sale in pharmacies. And since pimples and the sun don't mix, protect your skin with sunscreen all year round.

The Ducray laboratory recommends the use of cosmetics suitable for retentional acne such as products rich in keratolytic active ingredients and moisturizing and soothing agents.

Acne, how to fight it? / Credit: Pexels

Inflammatory or mixed adult acne

For its part, inflammatory acne is recognizable by its red pimples located on the lower face, especially in adult women. These prominent inflammations are characterized by epidermal lifting containing pus. This form of acne is due to the excessive secretion of sebum which clogs the pores of the skin and promotes the proliferation of the bacteria Cutibacterium Acnes. It is from this precise moment that the trouble begins.

Microcysts and blackheads can become inflamed and turn into papules or pustules. These lesions are particularly painful and difficult to treat. Unsurprisingly, the pimples that are pierced leave unsightly marks on the skin such as scars or red or pigmented spots. In most cases, it is recommended to consult a dermatologist or a general practitioner. In addition to the use of a local anti-acne treatment, certain treatments can limit the appearance of imperfections: use micellar water and cleansing gels to gently purify the skin of the face.

Adult hormonal acne

Hormonal acne occurs during adolescence and affects many women in adulthood. According to experts, this type of acne is linked to hormonal variations that promote the overproduction of sebum in the sebaceous glands. During their lifetime, women are plagued by hormonal imbalances (irregular and painful periods, libido problems, migraine, stress, etc.) which result in more or less severe acne breakouts.

Hormonal acne usually appears a week before the onset of menstruation or at the time of ovulation. The pimples are located on the lower part of the face including the chin. This rash can manifest itself in various forms: open comedone, closed microcyst, papule and pustule. Unfortunately, this pathology is difficult to treat. And it is not the French youtubeuse Enjoy Phoenix who will say the opposite. In 2019, the young woman confided via an Instagram publication to suffer from hormonal acne.

"So there you go, my name is Marie, I'm 24 years old, and after 5 years of testing products and treatments of all kinds (gluten-free diet, sugar-free, lactose-free. Antibiotic treatments, zinc , tetralisal, I've tried everything except roaccutane), I still suffer from hormonal acne and I hate it”.

Like the influencer, women affected by this skin condition are waging a merciless war against imperfections, but they cannot control their hormones.

Natural treatments for acne problems / Credit: Pexels

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What treatments and products are effective against acne pimples?

Depending on your type of acne, your dermatologist will be able to prescribe a suitable treatment for you. get rid of skin lesions:

- Oral treatment (medication, isotretinoin, minocycline, contraception, zinc)

- Local treatment (benzoyl peroxide)

- Peeling

- Subcutaneous incision

These treatments are recommended when acne is considered severe. Some antibiotics can cause undesirable side effects and health problems (hair loss, dry skin and mucous membranes, etc.). “Acne management can be difficult and time-consuming. However, treatments now make it possible to overcome this skin disease in most cases, ”said doctor Florence Poli to our colleagues from Doctissimo.

Useful advice to fight against imperfections on a daily basis

So yes, it is better to go to the dermatologist to draw a definitive line on our imperfections. On the other hand, it is possible to adopt simple actions to prevent or reduce their appearance. Without further ado, discover below the reflexes to include in your beauty routine:

As you know, excess sebum promotes the appearance of acne pimples. Therefore, it is important to wash your face morning and evening with a surgras soap (donkey milk soap, Le Petit Marseillais) to eradicate excess skin cells and tighten dilated pores.

You can also use a special “acne-prone skin” cleansing gel. Remember to use a clean towel to dry your skin. Complete your routine with a treatment suitable for acne-prone skin.

You may not know it, but essential oils are very effective in fighting acne. And the essential oil of Tea Tree (or tea tree) may become your best ally. This plant essence contains anti-infective, antibacterial and antiseptic properties. In other words, it gently cleanses the skin and dries up pimples.

Using a cotton swab, apply a drop morning and evening to your blackhead. Repeat the operation several times a day if necessary. This natural treatment will help you eliminate small imperfections.

What about acne scars?

Acne-prone skin has scars that are hard to leave. Chemical treatments (lasers, micro-needling, dermabrasion, etc.) have the power to reduce them. There are also many natural products that can reduce light marks. They are known as "dyschromic" or "pigmented" scars.

This succulent plant has moisturizing, softening and healing properties. Thanks to its properties, this 100% natural anti-acne treatment regulates sebum secretion while reducing acne scars. Magical, isn't it? Opt for a gel made directly from the aloe vera leaf and apply the product to the face and the areas to be treated. Repeat the process several times a day for more effects.

It is well known: honey is a multitasking substance capable of hydrating and smoothing the skin. This plant nectar is valued for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and healing benefits. Manuka honey is great for eliminating blackheads and excess sebum. From now on, you know what you have to do: a honey mask to find baby skin without imperfections.

Yes, you read that right. Snail slime is increasingly popular in France. This substance has powerful healing and restorative properties. It reduces acne scars and redness thanks to its active ingredients. Snail slime comes in the form of cosmetics (creams, masks, treatments, gels or serums).

Lemon juice is an effective way to erase scars and other skin problems. Inexpensive, this citrus fruit has very powerful detoxifying, whitening and antibacterial properties. Soak cotton with lemon juice and pat it on your scars. Wait ten minutes before rinsing your face with lukewarm water. The pigment spots on the face just have to watch out!

A word of advice, this anti-acne treatment must be used in the evening because lemon is not compatible with the sun which risks causing you skin burns.

Ladies and gentlemen, acne doesn't define you and your imperfections are perfect! Your mental health is more important!

Sources:

https://www.bioderma.fr/votre-peau/peau-mixte-grasse-acneique/peau-tendance-acneique/reconnaitre-type-acne

https://www.laroche-posay.fr/article/les-femmes-a-l-age-adulte-souffrent-de-plus-en-plus-d-acne/a25462.aspx

https://www.vidal.fr/ Maladies/peau-hair-ongles/acne/medicaments-orals.html