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Adult Acne 101: What You Didn’t Learn in Seventeen
 Adult
acne takes many women by surprise. Just when acne seems about to
become a distant teen memory, it resurfaces when women are in their
twenties and thirties. Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital
and the University of Alabama
report that it affects about 50% of women ages 20-29. It can
stay through the fifties if the right skin care steps aren’t taken! Here are some helpful facts about acne that
you probably didn’t learn years ago in Seventeen.
Fact 1: Thick, grainy scrubs are unfriendly to your face.
Some people make the mistake of scrubbing the face too hard to
exfoliate and clear away oil. Vigorous scrubbing is ironically
counterproductive because it causes inflammation. Instead, use a
very fine-grain scrub or:
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Use skincare products that include alpha-hydroxy acids.
Alpha-hydroxy acids promote faster cell turnover. This means
that pores don’t have as much time to get clogged. And here’s a
nice side effect: Alpha-hydroxy acids help to reduce the
appearance of fine lines.
-
Use a salicylic acid cleanser. This will dissolve oil without
causing inflammation. Salicylic acid cleansers are especially popular with
teens who have oily or combination skin. Because of the drying effect
though, they’re not the best option for adults who are concerned about
developing wrinkles. If you use salicylic acid all over your face, be sure
to slather on the moisturizer.
Fact 2: Gadgets work. There’s a somewhat
new tool available in the skin care aisle: the electronic pimple zapper. This
acne treatment works by heating a blemish to make it move through its regular
life cycle more quickly. It may also include sulfur or benzoyl peroxide to
destroy bacteria. The quality of these devices varies, so check out product
reviews from sites like
www.acnetreatment.net before purchasing.
 Fact 3:
Your insides are showing! In general,
treating your internal organs well brings clearer skin. Your liver
affects your skin. Your kidneys affect your skin. The less junk your
body needs to process, the better it functions. You can’t expect to
pour pints of beer into your liver and look great on the outside –
at least, not anymore! Remember that fitness includes your insides
too.
Fact 4: Herbs aren’t just for New Agers. Herbs can truly improve your
skin’s clarity. However, some companies sell dubious anti-acne herbal blends at
ripoff prices. Which herbs are truly effective? According to data reviewed at
LiveSTRONG, ginseng, gotu kola and chamomile are anti-agers that can help
keep your skin clear.
Fact 5: Chocolate is not necessarily evil. Why is chocolate associated
with acne? For one thing, some women eat more chocolate around PMS time, which
is when acne tends to flare up. But dark chocolate won’t trigger acne. Remember
this when choosing chocolate:
-
Milk chocolate
is associated with acne. That’s because milk can trigger outbreaks.
-
Chocolate with additives
might cause problems for some people. There’s no reason you should ingest Red
#40 and its fake friends along with pure chocolate’s healthy components.
Fact 5: A dermatologist can help you. Some women never see a
dermatologist because they think that their problems aren’t quite right.
-
My problem is too small.
If you’re reading this, then you’re probably bothered by acne at least once a
month. That constitutes a chronic, nagging problem in your life. What if a visit
to the doctor could change that?
-
My
problem is too big. If you have serious acne, a doctor can help.
Oral contraceptives, topical retinoids and other options – lasers included
-- are available.
A word of caution: Please don’t trust a doctor who is gung-ho about prescription
acne drugs with
very scary
side effects.
Drugs should be a last resort for people with very serious acne. Our goal is to
help you stay fit on the inside and out!
Dated 27 August 2012
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