You Needn’t Live With Adult Acne

Up to 90 percent of teenagers in the Western world develop facial pimples and/or acne. Sure, your adolescent acne was unpleasant, but now that it’s followed you into your late 20s or beyond, it’s downright frustrating. 

Change your life for the better by being treated at the office of Dermatology for the Family. We provide a warm and welcoming experience for each patient. We pride ourselves on utilizing the most modern equipment and methods available to improve the health of all of our patients’ skin.

Acne is rooted in excess skin oil and bacteria. Changes in hormones, such as during pregnancy, can trigger excess oil. There’s also a genetic factor in that if your mom or dad had adult acne, you may too. 

Comedones (blackheads and whiteheads) and inflammatory lesions (pimples, pustules, nodules or cysts) are the most common kinds of acne.

If you have tried over-the-counter medicated creams with alpha-hydroxy acid, benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid or vitamin A, a dermatologist can prescribe stronger creams or oral medications such as androgen blockers, antibiotics or retinoids. 

Low-dose birth control pills help some women control acne. The pills’ hormones can help block the hormone androgen, which revs up oil glands. However, some birth control pills worsen acne. Your dermatologist will decide if birth control pills are right for you. 

A combination of products works best. It can take four to twelve weeks to see solid results, and the treatments must be sustained for those results to last. 

The best way to tamp down acne is to not touch your face. Doing so may encourage oiliness, irritation and the development of bacteria. If you use oily hair care products, the oil can seep onto your face and clog pores. Using your fingertips (instead of a washcloth) and gentle skincare products to wash your face is also extremely helpful. 

The good news is that you won’t be stuck with acne forever. It tends to disappear with age, especially after age 50 or, for women, menopause, whichever comes first. 

At the office of Dermatology for the Family, we will work with you to develop a treatment plan for your acne and skin type. Please don’t hesitate to contact us for an appointment.