Adult acne is said to have increased over the years with a recent study from NeoStrata stating it now affects a whopping 70 per cent of adults
To properly treat the condition, you must first understand what acne really is.
The four grades of acne 1. Normally found in adolescents, Grade 1 acne appears as blackheads, whiteheads, and milia and can often be treated with proper cleansing.
2. In addition to what is visible in Grade 1 acne, Grade 2 includes pustules and papules (blockages with slight inflammation). This will need to be treated at a spa or with professional products.
3. Inflammation spreads from the face to the neck, chest, back, and upper arms, and cysts may appear. Grade 3 acne is found mainly in adults, will lead to scarring, and requires a visit to the dermatologist.
4. All the above will be apparent in Grade 4 acne, and inflammation will be extreme. Sufferers will often complain of aching joints and fever, and it almost always requires medication.
Food, exercise, stress
• Some foods will encourage acne to flare up. Fried foods, sugars, and anything high in saturated oils should be avoided since they’re shown in the body as toxins, which the body is not able to fight off.
• Exercising helps treat some acne since it eliminates toxins from the body and releases hormones that have a healing effect on the skin.
• Stress is also hormone-related. When we are over-stressed, hormones can fluctuate, which can encourage breakouts.
Treatments
At the dermatologist’s office, they’ll often recommend topical treatments containing a high concentration of benzoyl peroxide, which helps fight the bacteria that causes inflammation. The other commonly recommended product is Retin A or Retinol, which helps exfoliate skin, keeping the pores clean from excess sebum and dead-cell build-up, reducing or eliminating further breakouts.
For dryer skin types with Grade 2 acne, microdermabrasion or skin rejuvenation treatments are great in-salon options. The exfoliation process helps keep pores clean and continues cellular turnover, encouraging healthier cells to rise to the epidermis, resulting in a more even complexion as well as healed scar tissue.
With oily skin, we want to avoid the over-production of sebum. Facials with citrus fruits will help balance oil production as well as give that squeaky clean effect on the skin. Glycolic peels, specifically those containing alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) will give great results since they eliminate cellular build up.
VaidehieMistry is a leading expert in the world of skincare.With the science of beauty at her fingertips, she takes a deeper look at the dos and don’ts of proper skincare.Vaidehie owns Sitamaa Day Spa (www.sitamaa.com ) and regularly contributes to the lifestyle chat show The Steven & Chris Show. Have a Beauty Clinic question? Email her
vaidehie.mistry@anokhimagazine.com BY: VAIDEHIE MISTRY / PUBLISHED: MAY 2010 ISSUE
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