There are very few things that can be as devastating to your self-esteem as acne. Acne has a number of different causes including hormones which is why it can be such a problem in your teen years. It can also be caused by an overproduction of sebum, or oil on the skin. When you have that combined with the shedding of skin cells and plugged hair follicles. Acne causes and treatment are important to anyone who has ever suffered from the condition.
Everyone Gets Acne
Acne affects everyone to one degree or another. There isn’t a cure for acne but there are some measures that you can take to avoid making the problem worse. For most of us the worst of acne comes during puberty, your bodies is going through lots of changes and hormones are raging. For a small minority acne can go well beyond puberty and extends well into adulthood. You can even suffer from acne over 30 and about 5% of people still have acne after age 45. Here is a closer look at adult acne.
Where You Get Acne
Your face, neck, chest and back are the most common areas where you can get acne, leaving you with scars and sores. These areas of your skin are where you will find the most sebaceous organ. If you have adult acne then you can have lots of acne along your jawline. Underneath the skin you will find follicular fittings, these are whiteheads and if they have been oxidized by air then you get a “zit”. Your acne papules are anywhere from pink to dark red and the pustules are filled with discharge.
Treating Acne
There are a couple of ways that you can treat your acne, including antibiotics, topical agents and retinoids. Washing your face with a cleanser containing benzoyl peroxide can help keep your acne under control and slowly reduce break outs. Acne can cause some pretty horrible scarring. You can help reduce the acne scars by not picking at your acne. There are treatments that can help with the scars, if you speak with a dermatologist they can recommend laser treatment or Botox and PRP treatments.
Acne can be frustrating and it can be soul crushing to deal with extreme break outs, especially when it goes on past your teen years. There are solutions, talk with your primary care provider for a referral to a dermatologist who can help you manage your acne. There are treatments available that can get your acne under control.