Adult acne (pimple)
Acne (pimples) is common during the teens and early twenties. In adults acne can be due to stress or changes in your hormone levels, due to events like menopause or during use of birth control pills.
It can also occur due to some medications, notably, corticosteroids, drugs used in epilepsy (fits) or lithium.
At times it is very difficult to find out the cause of acne in adults, hence difficult to treat or manage. The following helps:
Daily Skin Care:
“It’s very important to cleanse your skin every day,” says dermatologist Doris Day, MD, of Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. Follow these steps:
- Wash your face no more than twice a day.
- Use cool or warm water and a gentle cleanser.
- Use your hands, a baby washcloth (it’s gentler than a regular one), or a cleansing brush for 30 seconds].
- Pat (don’t rub) your skin dry.
Types of products used to control acne include:
Cleansers: Cleansers washes the dirt, grime, makeup, and pollution, Day says. A good cleanser will also let other skin products reach your skin and work better. Choose gentle cleaners that won’t strip your skin, says Jonette Keri, MD, PhD, associate professor of dermatology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
Creams and Lotions: Retinoid creams or lotions can help clear your skin and also lessen wrinkles. Products made with sulfur can be good for the occasional spot treatment. Benzoyl peroxide also helps fight acne but use products containing it only occasionally, because they can dry out your skin, Day says. You could also try a milder benzoyl peroxide product.
Cosmetics: Some cosmetics include salicylic acid, which fights acne. In general, look for skin care products that say on the label that they are noncomedogenic (which means they don’t clog pores) or non-acnegenic (they don’t cause breakouts).
Prescription Medications: Medications that affect hormones, like birth control pills, can help control acne, so does antibiotic pills and retinoids. Aldactone (spironolactone) which was first made to treat high blood pressure is also used to treat acne. “That works miracles but it can take three months to kick in,” Day says. Isotretinoin is another prescription drug for acne, but not indicated if you’re pregnant or planning to get pregnant.
High-tech solutions: Light therapy, or PDT, uses lasers to treat acne. Some people say it hurts. Vacuum therapy also works with lights. Both of these options can be expensive.
And finally, do not squeeze your pimples. Your skin specialist can do that.
In short, acne can be brought under control by taking Aldactone (spironolactone) twice a day as well as birth control pills and cleaning the face in the morning and night, and by using retinoid or benzoyl peroxide wash as needed. Take the prescription from your skin specialist.
Dr. Ajay Sati.
