Acne can be as much of a problem for a 40-year-old as it is for a 16-year-old. Understanding why adult acne occurs and the options available to treat it can help reduce the stress associated with having this disorder.
What Exactly is Adult Acne?
For some patients, acne persists from their teen years through their 50s. For others, it appears for the first time in midlife. Adult-onset acne most frequently occurs in women undergoing menopause.
In general, females experience acne more than their male counterparts do. Among adults, more than 70 percent have outbreaks when they are between 20 and 50 years old. The cause is most often hormone- or bacteria-based. Comedones—blackheads or whiteheads—must be present to receive an adult acne diagnosis.
Adult acne has four components:
Sebum oil
A bacteria called P. acnes
A clogged hair follicle
Inflammation caused by the immune system trying to kill bacteria
Researchers are still unsure of hormones' exact role in the development of adult acne. Another possible cause of the disorder is the production of cortisol, a stress hormone. Some individuals also appear to be particularly sensitive to specific foods. Others might have undiagnosed underlying medical conditions.
Treatment Options
The most effective treatment for adult acne is available from a dermatology practice. A dermatologist Palo Alto will identify the principal driver of a patient’s acne and create a personalized plan to treat it. Getting the upper hand often requires patience. Options include:
Topical and oral medications: Dermatologists sometimes prescribe an anti-inflammatory retinoid applied topically. An oral version of vitamin A is available (brand: Accutane). Some patients use topical treatments that combine an antibiotic with benzoyl peroxide. Several new creams and other topicals are available that are less severe on the skin than their predecessors were.
Hormone blockers: Oral antibiotics are not effective for some adult acne. For these patients, oral medications that block hormones are sometimes a successful treatment.
Photodynamic therapy: This treatment combines light therapy with a photosensitizing agent and is particularly useful for adult acne categorized as mild or moderate. Light activates a medication that kills bacteria and shrinks sebaceous glands. Most patients require several treatments.
Surgical extractions: An aesthetician gently extracts plugs in blackheads, whiteheads, cysts, and pustules. Treatment includes restoring a normal environment to the patient’s skin in order for healing to occur without scarring. Aestheticians might also perform microdermabrasion, a chemical peel, or a silk peel.
