Home remedies for Body Acne

Body acne can be treated using a special pack for acne. Mix rosewater with aloe pulp and add a pinch of turmeric powder in it. Apply this solution onto the affected area of pimple on body and it serves as one of the effective home remedies for body acne .

Take a peeled orange and gently rub on the acne at the back. Orange contains natural skin healing properties that you can use as one of the simple yet effective remedies for body acne.

Fix 1 part of freshly squeezed lemon juice with one part of groundnut oil. Rub this onto affected area. Lemon and groundnut contains natural substances that heal the skin problems and hence can be used as one of the trusted home remedies for body acne.

Potatoes serve as acne healing agents and hence can be used as one of the effective home remedies for body acne . Simply peel the potato and apply a fresh pulp of potato onto the affected area. You can practice this for several weeks and you see good results in tackling body acne.

Take finely powdered cinnamon and mix it with a teaspoon of lemon juice. Apply it onto the affected areas of body acne and it serves as one of the trusted home remedies for body acne .

Herbs such as aloe, shatavari, turmeric, pureria, sandalwood and tulasi (holy basil) have unique skin beautifying and rejuvenating properties and can be used as one of the effective home remedies for body acne . You can choose the herbal product that contains two or more than above mentioned herbal extracts and use it as daily cream to prevent and cure body acne

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Home Remedies for Acne: Management and Remedy

Acne treatment with Vitamins

Two vitamins, specifically, niacin and vitamin A have been used effectively to treat acne. Vitamin analysis should comprise the intake of 100 mg niacin, three times on a daily basis, and 50,000 global units of vitamin A, three period daily. Vitamin E, 400 mg, should be taken once on a daily basis. This rehabilitation should be continued for a month.

Acne treatment by means of Zinc

One more effective remedy in the region of nourishment that seems to offer new promise of help for acne is zinc. It has shown staged results in some cases. Zinc should be taken in salutary doses of 50 mg three periods a day. Zinc is obtainable in tablet and in capsule form. In pill form, it is available as Zinfet - 200 mg (Yash Pharma, Bombay). The patient can take a quarter tablets so as to obtain 50 mg of zinc. In capsule shape, zinc is available as Ulseal 220 mg (Tam Pharmaceuticals). One-fourth of the powder within the capsule can be taken as a lone dose. The patient can take a dose of 50 mg daily equal to one month or till there is noticeable enhancement and then decrease the dose to 25 mg

Home Remedy for Acne by means of Orange peel

Home-based Acne Treatment using Orange peel has been found very useful. Pound the orange skin with water on a piece stone and apply to acne affected areas. One of the good home remedies for acne.

Home Remedies for Acne via Lemon

An easy medicine at home for acne: Lemon juice applied frequently has proved very valuable in reducing pimples and acne.

Garlic:

Garlic has been used profitably to heal acne. Massage with raw garlic several times a day. Garlic is known to have cured the toughest of acne difficulty. The outside use of garlic helps to clear the skin of spots, pimples and boils. Acne can more be cured by intake of three seeds of raw garlic once on a daily basis for a month. This purifies the blood stream and ensures basic purification of blood keeping acne away.

Coriander and Mint Juice: Home Remedies for Acne

A teaspoon of coriander juice, mixed with a pinch of turmeric powder, is an additional effective home medicine for pimples and blackheads. The combination should be applied to the face after carefully washing it each night before retiring. Mint juice can be used in a similar mode as coriander juice. This is one of the best home remedies for acne.

Acne treatment by means of Fenugreek

Fenugreek is a new useful therapy for acne. A paste made of the leaves of this vegetable, applied over the face each night earlier than going to bed and washed with hot water in the morning, prevents pimples and blackheads. One of the well liked home remedies for acne.

Cucumber:

Grated cucumber applied over the face, eyes, and neck for fifteen to twenty minutes has been found useful. It is the most excellent boost for the skin of the face. Its usual use prevents pimples and blackheads.

More Home Remedies for Acne

    Apply lemon juice and rose water in equal amount with a cotton ball and leave for half an hour and wash. Repeat this remedy for 20-25 days.

    Mix 3-4 drops of lemon juice in 1 tablespoon of sour cream, 1 tablespoon of yogurt and 1 tablespoon of grind oatmeal. Apply on face, leave the paste for 10-15 minutes and wash.

    A good home remedy is the egg yolk mask which removes the excessive oils from your skin. Apply the egg yolk with a cotton ball to oily spots and leave this on your face for 15 minutes to 20 minutes and wash with cold water.

    Mix 1 tablespoon groundnut oil with 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice and apply this on acne to prevent acne.

    Take small amount of ground almonds and honey and make a fine paste. Gently massage this paste on your face with a hot washcloth and then rinse with cold water.

    Make a fine paste from sandalwood and black gram. Apply rose water on the face before applying paste. Now apply paste over the whole face and leave it overnight. Clean your face clean with cool water in the morning. Sandalwood has a cooling effect and it does a great job of reducing skin inflammation and irritation because it.

    Mix 1/2 cup mashed apple, 1/2 cup cooked oatmeal, 1 slightly beaten egg white and 1 tablespoon lemon juice into a fine paste and apply to your face for at least 15 minutes to 20 minutes and rinse with cold water.

    Mix honey and cinnamon powder into a fine paste. Apply on the acne pimples before sleeping and wash it next morning with warm water. Repeat for 2-3 weeks, pimples will disappear forever.

    Make a fine paste of turmeric powder with neem leaves. Apply on acne. Wash it off after 25-30 minutes with lukewarm water.

Recommended Diet for Acne

Fruit Acne diet

To start with, the patient is supposed to take only an 'all-fruit' diet for a week, taking three meals a day, of fresh ripe fruits, such as apples, pears, grapes, grapefruit, pineapples, and peaches. Merely unsweetened lemon or plain water, either hot or cold, ought to be drunk and not anything else.
In proportion Acne diet

Following the one-week, all-fruit diet, the patient can increasingly adopt a well-balanced diet with stress on raw foods, in particular fresh fruit and vegetables, sprouted seeds, raw nuts, and wholegrain cereals, mainly millet and brown rice. Additional short periods of the 'all-fruit' diet meant for three days or so might be essential at a monthly period till the skin's state improves.
Keep away from tough tea/coffee, soft drinks and processed foods

Meats, sugar, strong tea or coffee, condiments, pickles, soft drinks, candies, ice cream, developed and processed foods be supposed to be avoided as far as possible

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Find out the difference between oily, normal, dry skin

There are 5 basic skin care types: oily, combination (normal), sensitive, dry and sun-damaged. Your skin type is determined by how much -- or how little -- oil your skin produces. Genes, diet, stress level, hormonal fluctuations, medication and even your skincare regimen all determine how much oil your skin produces.

Rona Berg, in her book, "Beauty the New Basics," suggests you take the "skin test" to tell what skin type you have. To do this, wash your face, pat it dry, then take a few pieces of rice paper or lens-cleaning tissue paper and press on different spots on your face. If your skin is oily, the paper will stick, pick up oily spots and become translucent. If the paper doesn't stick or pick up any oily spots, your skin is likely dry. If it sticks in your t-zone (forehead, nose and chin) then you have combination (or normal) skin. Most women actually have combination skin.
Here are the 5 different skin types and their tell-tale characteristic

Oily Skin

Oily skin is shiny skin, especially in the T-zone (from the forehead, down the nose to the chin). You may have enlarged pores, and you may be prone to blackheads and breakouts due to the overproduction of the sebaceous (oil-producing) glands. The good thing about oily skin is it ages better than dry skin because the oils keep the skin plump allowing fewer wrinkles to form. Many young women have oily skin but as they age, they may find their skin becomes more dry, especially after age 35
To take care of your skin, wash with a cleanser formulated for oily skin before you go to bed. Exfoliate twice weekly with a gentle scrub and use oil-free moisturizers. If you suffer from breakouts, an astringent may help. When it comes to blush and bronzers, powdered blends work better than liquid ones and look for oil-free options for tinted moisturizers or foundations.

Combination/Normal Skin

Most women (some experts say up to 70 percent, although how anyone arrived at that number is beyond me), have combination, or "normal" skin. Combination skin means you may have a slightly oily T-zone and drier cheeks with dry patchy spots here and there. You may also have larger pores on your cheeks and possibly your forehead. This skin type has medium pores, a smooth and even texture, good circulation and a healthy color. To take care of your skin, you may need to treat the T-zone differently from your drier spots. If your T-zone tends to be oily, try an astringent on those areas only after you've washed your face. Make sure to exfoliate twice weekly (I love my Clarisonic Mia) to remove any dead skin cells and use a heavier facial moisturizer on your dry spots as need

Dry Skin

After I turned 35 my skin magically became much drier. This skin fluctuation can definitely be attributed to hormones. Dry skin feels tight, especially after cleansing. You have a tendency towards fine wrinkles, flaking and red patches. In women of color, skin may appear ashy or dull from dead skin buildup. Dry skin requires special care. I prefer heavy cleansers and moisturizers over the lightweight products of my oilier years. I exfoliate weekly and even slather on primers before I apply foundation just to plump the skin up as much as possible. I carry Evian spray water with me when I'm traveling to less humid areas and I keep a bottle on my desk to spray my face in the winter, when furnaces dry out the air. If you live in a cold environment, I suggest using a humidifier in your office and bedroom to keep skin from drying out.

Sensitive Skin

Sensitive skin tends to be thin, and delicate with fine pores. If you are easily irritated by the sun, certain cosmetic products and if you are prone to redness, itchy patches or blotchy skin, you likely have sensitive skin. Finding the right cleansers and moisturizers for your skin type can be tricky. The good news is many companies have developed products specifically for sensitive skin. Look for mild products that contain no scents. Many drugstores and department stores allow you to return products, so check out the return policy before you buy or ask if the store carries freebies so you can try before you buy.

Aging or Sun-damaged Skin

This skin also feels tight with visible wrinkles, slack skin tone -- especially around the cheeks and jawline -- with leathery texture and broken capillaries. To care for aging skin, you should consider using moisturizers and heavy creams to plump up your fine wrinkles. I love Retin-A which has done wonders on my skin tone and has smoothed some fine wrinkles. And if you are really upset about your deeper lines, you can have them frozen with Botox or filled with injectables

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Getting to the Root of the Problem of Mild Acne

If you've noticed any symptoms of acne, the first step is to set up an appointment with your doctor or dermatologist. There are a variety of treatments available today so you don't have to rely on expensive cover-ups.
Typically, mild acne is treated with topical medications such as benzoyl peroxide, salicyclic acid, or azelaic acid. Topical antibiotics such as erythromycin, metronidazole, or clindamycin may be used to treat mild inflammatory acne. Your dermatologist may prescribe retinoids, such as Retin-A, Differin, or Tazorac, which are derived from vitamin A, that help unplug follicles and have anti-inflammatory properties.  
Some research shows that for mild acne, combining a topical retinoid with an antimicrobial agent is more effective than using either agent alone. 
Topical medications come in different forms, including gels, lotions, and creams. Talk to your dermatologist to determine which type will be the best fit for your skin. Individuals with dry or sensitive skin may be better served by creams and lotions, while those with oil-prone complexions may benefit from gels. 
Most adult acne sufferers have dry skin, as opposed to oily-skinned teens, explains Farris, so creams and lotions can be less irritating than gels.
It's critical to the success of your treatment that you follow the prescribed instructions carefully. For example, you may only need to apply a pea-sized amount of your topical medication to your face. You should apply the topical treatment to the entire affected area, not only the lesions. Certain medications should only be applied at night.
Common procedures to improve the appearance of mild scars include microdermabrasion and chemical peels, which physically remold scars. As a byproduct, these can stimulate collagen secretion which can also improve scars. These procedures take away the surface dead skin cell layers, allowing your topical medications to penetrate more deeply and be more effective in treating acne

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A Guide to Treating Mild Acne

The first signs of mild acne could be the appearance of a few red bumps around your mouth or chin. Perhaps you're going through a stressful period at work or have other demands knocking at your door. This can't be acne, you think. Acne is what teenagers get.
There's a lingering myth that acne only affects the teenage crowd. In fact, acne is the most common skin condition in the country, affecting an estimated 40 to 50 million Americans, and can cause anxiety and stress regardless of severity.
Understanding acne and comparing acne treatment options can help you tackle the problem head-on and find a workable solution. While acne, commonly called acne vulgaris or acne rosacea, is not curable, it is treatable. Mild acne can be properly managed with the help of your dermatologist or doctor.
"A lot of patients are surprised to discover they have adult acne," says John E. Wolf Jr., MD, professor and chairman of the department of dermatology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. "The big myth is that acne is a childhood and teenage disease. Acne can be seen literally cradle to grave."

The Signs of Mild Acne

What does acne look like? The symptoms of adult acne can look vastly different than teenage acne. Take location, for instance. Instead of tiny bumps in the T-Zone, acne may be more likely to appear in the lower part of the face, especially around the mouth, jaw and neck.
Acne spots often appear in areas with the highest concentration of sebaceous glands, for example, the face, neck, upper back, and chest. Basically, pores become blocked, causing pimples, called papules and pustules, to form. Whiteheads (completely blocked pores) and blackheads (partially blocked pores) can trap a combination of oil, bacteria, and dead skin cells. 
There may be itching, pigmentation, or dry skin associated with adult acne, says Patricia Farris, MD, a dermatologist in private practice in Metairie, La., and clinical associate professor in the department of dermatology at Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans.
There are a number of factors contributing to acne. For women, hormonal changes such as pregnancy and menopause can lead to breakouts. Stress may be a contributing factor, and acne can be triggered or aggravated by external factors, such as clothing or medications.

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Treating Severe Inflammatory or Cystic Acne

When acne does not respond to the standard one-two punch of topical retinoids and oral antibiotics, patients have two other choices: the drug isotretinoin, or Accutane, or one of several procedure-based treatments for acne that involve using laser or light treatment to reduce inflammation and kill acne-causing bacteria.

Accutane is an extremely powerful treatment for acne, often clearing up severe, scarring breakouts that had not responded to any other treatments within a matter of a few months.

But it also carries with it a host of risks and side effects, including inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, liver damage, bony malformations, depression, and a virtual certainty of severe birth defects for the babies of women who take Accutane while pregnant.
In 2005, the FDA established an online tracking database, called iPledge, and now requires all patients to sign onto the database to continue receiving their prescriptions. The iPledge system requires women to submit two negative pregnancy tests before they can receive an initial prescription for isotretinoin. Women must also undergo a monthly pregnancy test before each refill. Men are also tracked because of Accutane’s depression risk.

"Anyone taking Accutane really needs to be counseled properly about all of these risks,” says Alexiades-Amenakas.  The drug also impairs wound healing, so if a patient with severe cystic acne begins taking the drug, those cysts typically resolve with scars. "It gets rid of the underlying problem, but you’re almost guaranteed to heal with scars if you’re at that level of inflammation when you start taking Accutane."

The alternative to Accutane for people with severe, stubborn acne, is a treatment involving laser/light therapy. The two main options are:

Photodynamic therapy. "In this technique, we apply a prescription liquid to the patient’s face, chest, or back -- wherever the acne is -- and then apply a light or laser to activate the medicine," Taub says. "Not only does the medication kill bacteria -- which is less important, because bacteria will come back -- but over a few months, it also reduces the size and activity of the oil glands."

Isolaz. This treatment combines a vacuum with a broadband light. The vacuum cleanses pores and extracts excess oil, while the light helps destroy the acne-causing bacteria as well as reducing the activity of the oil gland.

"For people with the most severe acne who’ve failed other treatments, I usually count on Accutane or laser treatment," says Taub.

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Treating ‘Hormonal’ Acne

Many cases of inflammatory acne are "hormonal" in nature -- that is, they occur in teenage girls and women, and are aggravated by hormonal fluctuations like those that occur during the menstrual cycle. For these women, dermatologists often choose to prescribe either oral contraceptive pills or another medication called spironolactone.

There are now three oral contraceptives that are specifically approved by the FDA for the treatment of acne in women: Yaz, Estrostep, and Ortho Tri-Cyclen. Only pills that combine the female hormone estrogen with the synthetic version of the male hormone progesterone, progestin, can stabilize hormonal fluctuations in a way that can treat acne.

Oral contraceptives are a very effective treatment for acne in many women, but you have to give them time to work, says Bethanee Schlosser, MD, assistant professor and director of the women’s skin health program in the department of dermatology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. "I ask patients to give the pills at least three months of use before judging their impact. That’s when the studies found a notable difference between placebos and oral contraceptives. Many patients went on to get further benefit at about six months out. This is not an overnight process."

Some women may prefer not to use oral contraceptives, or should not take them because they are smokers or otherwise at high risk. These women, as well as those who only get partial acne relief from contraceptives, are often prescribed a drug called spironolactone.

This medication is a diuretic -- that is, a "water pill" that causes frequent urination. It also blocks receptors for male hormones, which modulates the hormonal surges that can stimulate oil production, causing acne.  Spironolactone isn’t approved by the FDA to treat acne and probably won’t be, Schlosser says, because as a generic drug there’s little motivation for a manufacturer to pay for the trials needed to go through the approval process. But most dermatologists agree that it works well as an acne treatment.

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Treating Mild to Moderate Comedonal and Inflammatory Acne

Most cases of mild comedonal acne occur in teenagers and young adults, and these can usually be treated with traditional topical creams and gels. The most common of these are retinoids, like Retin-A, Differin, Renova, and Tazorac. They work by unblocking clogged pores.

Dermatologists will often combine a topical retinoid with an oral antibiotic, such as doxycycline, tetracycline, minocycline or erythromycin, which kills the bacteria that cause inflammation around the blocked pores.

"This type of treatment is focused on teenagers, who usually have a period of a year to four years when they’re breaking out because of changing hormone levels and increased oil production, and in some cases, genetics," says Amy Taub, MD, founder and medical director of Advanced Dermatology in Lincolnshire, Ill. Taub is also an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine.

Each of the antibiotics has its own set of side effects -- doxycycline causes sun sensitivity, for example, and tetracycline can cause yellowing of teeth in children -- so dermatologists will work with their patients to help choose an antibiotic that works best for them.

Mild to moderate comedonal acne can often be aggravated by external triggers, like hair gels and makeup. "Some of these makeups and gels are so occlusive that when the person stops using them, the acne goes away," says Macrene Alexiades-Armenakas.

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Selecting the Right Acne Treatment for You

Years ago, teenagers with acne were told to cut out the potato chips and given a tube of Clearasil. Today, we know far more about the reasons why some people develop acne and how it can most effectively be treated.

All cases of acne are not created equal, and neither are all acne treatments. Although all acne has its roots in the same process -- hormonal fluctuations that stimulate oil production -- not all acne is equally severe and not all cases of acne will respond to the same types of treatments.

Most cases of acne fit within one of three main categories, says Macrene Alexiades-Armenakas, MD, PhD, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Yale School of Medicine and a specialist in laser therapy for acne, who practices in New York City:

Comedonal acne. This is the kind of mild acne that involves blackheads and whiteheads. It forms because a component of skin oil called sebum, along with old skin cells, block the pores of the skin. Comedonal acne appears most often on the forehead, nose, and chin.

Inflammatory acne. This form of acne occurs when the area just under the “plug” (the blackhead or whitehead) becomes reddened and inflamed.

Cystic acne. The most severe form of acne, cystic acne develops as the result of an actual infection in the area of the outbreak. Cystic acne often runs in families. It’s often very painful and can result in disfiguring, permanent scarring.

The type of treatment that works for you will depend both on the kind of acne you have, and the additional factors that seem to trigger acne outbreaks

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Moderate and Severe Adult Acne Blemishes

Moderate adult acne is more common than severe acne, but both severities can cause significant problems for adults. Acne blemishes that are persistent or difficult to treat can be embarrassing and painful. Moderate and severe acne conditions involve infection and swelling of the pores in the skin.

Moderate acne types include two types of adult acne lesions: papules and pustules. Papules and pustules are forms of adult acne that form close to the surface of the skin.

Papules are red lumps or bumps on the skin that do not have a “visible” head. Instead the pore has become clogged and is accumulating oil. Swelling indicates that the tissues inside of the pores are being damaged by the blockage. The oils are unable to seep out of the pores, either because the pore opening is too small or because it is blocked. In this stage, the P. acnes bacteria that lives on the skin begins to infest the pore because there is no oxygen to keep it regulated.

Pustules are typical pimples, known as whiteheads. Pustules indicate that the bacteria in the pore have developed to the point that the body has reacted with an immune response. White blood cells are invading the pore to kill the bacteria. As the pressure inside of the pore rises, the whitehead forms on top of the pore as the substances try to escape.

Severe acne types include two types of adult acne lesions as well: nodules and cysts. Nodules and cysts begin much deeper in the skin layer than other forms of adult acne.

Nodules are comparable to papules, except that they are infected and occur deep in the underlying layers of the dermis. Because significant damage is done to the pore walls, infection can spread to nearby pores and creates a bigger lump in the skin that is often very painful.

Cysts are nodules that have become very infected. Much like pustules, cysts have become engorged with pus, oils, and cellular debris. Because the infection originated much deeper in the dermis and involves multiple pores, it is very painful and much more severe than pustule infection however.

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Types Moderate to Severe Adult Acne

Adults experience many forms of acne throughout their lives, but some individuals may experience moderate to severe acne that is difficult to treat and persistent. Persistent adult acne can become a problem because it is more like to develop into a more severe condition in which the skin becomes infected and painful.

While women are more likely to develop adult acne occasionally as a result of hormonal changes, men are more likely to develop cystic forms of back acne where the pores of the skin run much deeper than other places on the upper body. Cystic acne is regarded as the most severe form of acne and has a more stringent treatment for adult acne.

Moderate acne is characterized by a number of breakouts that occur frequently and when acne blemishes that are not cystic in nature occur in great quantities. Severe acne is characterized by the presence of a wide array of types of adult acne blemishes, but also the presence of painful lesions known as nodules and cysts.

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Preventing and Treating Adult Acne

Prevention really is the best medicine when it comes to adult acne. The most common type of adult acne can’t be see with the eye, but is the very beginning stages of all forms of adult acne detailed throughout the pages of this site.

Known as a microcomedone, these tiny clogged pores can easily be treated through regular cleansing with a good facial cleanser. Moisturizing is also a great preventative measure because dry skin causes cracks and fissures in the skin where bacteria love to live. (Dry skin also causes wrinkles to appear!)

Even people who adhere to a strict regimen of skin care can develop acne if they aren’t careful. So, to prevent acne caused by some of the most common triggers there are things detailed throughout this site that we can do to help keep the environment safer for our skin. There are also prescriptions and over the counter medications that can be used for certain types of adult acne once it has formed.

In these tough acne situations, you should try the plan found in Acne No More. It is a comprehensive and effective treatment for adult acne that has defeated even the toughest acne problems:

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Top 10 Triggers of Adult Acne

Adult acne is often triggered by common practices that many people do not consider when thinking about adult acne breakouts. Nevertheless, these activities often trigger adult acne to form. All acne is caused by clogged pores or clogged pores that have become infected. However, certain things that we do or allow to contact our skin can trigger clogging and infectious reactions that lead to adult acne.

By identifying these triggers, you can pinpoint a more effective treatment for adult acne.

Adult Acne Trigger 1: Hormones
Pregnancy, perimenopause, and menstruation is the leading trigger of adult acne in women because of hormonal changes that occur during these times of life. Androgens and estrogen impact the way the sebaceous glands produce oil. (It can happen in men, too! Androgens are related to testosterones that are present in men and women.)

Adult Acne Trigger 2: Big Dates, Weddings, and Other Events
There is a reason that some people develop acne the morning of their wedding or the day before that first date. Stress and anxiety changes the way our bodies process and metabolize things and it induces a hormone response to cope with this change.

Adult Acne Trigger 3: Diet
Changing your diet can also throw off the body’s metabolism and hormonal balance, too. Diets high in carbohydrates are also thought to stimulate sebaceous gland activity, so avoid rich breads and sugars.

Adult Acne Trigger  4: Cosmetics
Most cosmetic products are labeled “non-comedogenic”, which is a fancy way to say that the product won’t clog pores. While they probably don’t clog pores as advertised, they still sit on top of the skin’s surface and pores. The same is true of sunscreens containing zinc and titanium dioxide. The trick is to make sure you wash cosmetics off at the end of every day.


Adult Acne Trigger 5: Hair Products

Hair products clog pores the same that cosmetic do, so after applying a hair product, be sure to thoroughly wash the face and hairline to remove any over sprayed product.

Adult Acne Trigger  6: Changing Skincare Products
The skin gets used to a certain environment and changing skin care products often because one doesn’t seem to work can actually make acne worse. It can take 4 to 6 weeks for skin to adjust, so give products time to work.

Adult Acne Trigger  7: Cell Phones and Hands
Cell phones touch bacteria-infested surfaces all day long and with skin repeatedly and can accumulate oils. Since the same parts touch the face each time, clean cell phones with an alcohol wipe frequently to avoid oil transfer. (Same thing goes for your hands.)

Adult Acne Trigger  8: Dry Skin
Dry skin gets cracked, and cracks are an ideal spot for bacteria to form and thrive. Bacteria cause acne, so stay moisturized with a good lotion that doesn’t clog pores.

Adult Acne Trigger  9: Waxing and Tweezing
Waxing and tweezing can cause inflammation of the pores. Inflammation causes oil and cells to become trapped in the pore.

Adult Acne Trigger 10: Vacationing

Vacationing means exposing skin to different water components and air contaminants. Just like switching skin care products, the skin can react to these changes triggering oil production changes that can lead to acne

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Triggers of Adult Acne

Adults are more exposed to some of the triggers that cause this cycle of oil accumulation and clogged pores. Some of the triggers are things that we do without even considering the possibility that they may lead to acne.

One example is talking on a cell phone. Cell phones come into contact with the areas of the face near the mouth, where they pick up oil from the skin. They also get handled a lot, picking up oil from our palms. Finally, cell phones are exposed to bacteria virtually all day long when they are placed on surfaces. Obviously, not using a cell phone is not a viable treatment for adult acne, but you can at least wipe down your screen regularly.

All of these substances can accumulate on the phone and transfer right back to the pore on our faces and cause extra oil and bacteria levels to rise, resulting in clogged pores and adult acne. The same principles apply to just about anything the skin comes into contact with, including our hands, cosmetics, hair products, and sunscreens.

Stress and hormonal changes are probably the most common triggers for adult acne. Pregnancy, menstruation, perimenopause, and metabolic changes caused by stress, dietary changes, and changes in exercise routines can all have an impact on hormones that cause sebaceous glands to produce more oils.

Pressure from clothing (heavy materials on the back or constrictive clothing) combined with sweating and moisture can cause an ideal place for bacteria to develop. Medications can also trigger adult acne as a side effect.

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Women with acne

 You thought that when you hit your 20's it would be the end of your acne woes. Right? Unfortunately for many women this is not the case. As the female body goes into and out of baby-bearing mode, many major hormonal changes take place that put women at risk of getting adult acne.

What to look out for
There are certain signs of acne-causing hormonal imbalances that a woman should look out for. If you have any of the following, you should go and see a dermatologist:

    If you have never had acne and it suddenly appears in adulthood or reappears after it has cleared up earlier.
    If your acne is not responding to any treatments.
    If your acne gets worse during menstruation or pregnancy.
    If you starts developing "masculine" traits such as excessive hair growth or hair loss.
    If your skin starts to darken under your armpits and in your body folds.
    If the middle part of your torso becomes obese.

All of the above could be indications of hormonal abnormalities in your adrenal or pituitary glands or in your ovaries.

It's blaming men!
Let's face it, many of the problems women experience are caused by men, and surprise, surprise it is the so-called "male" hormones that cause acne in adult women.

Androgen (the male hormone) is present in both women and men. Androgen causes acne because it stimulates the sebaceous follicles where acne lesions start.

Teenagers usually have relatively large amounts of androgen present in their bodies. This is why acne is often mistakenly thought of as only a "teenage condition".

Excess androgen leads to the over-stimulation of the sebaceous follicles and the result is acne. The androgen level is supposed to stabilise as the teenager reaches adulthood and any acne problems normally clear up.

Acne in adults
You're in your 20's or 30's and suddenly your womanly glow is replaced by an acne rash. Acne in mature females is thankfully usually only mild to moderate. The treatments that you might have used as a teenager will no longer be effective, because this time your acne is associated with a hormonal change.

Over-the-counter products will not be enough to treat adult acne in women. You will need to see your dermatologist who will give you a thorough medical examination and will prescribe an appropriate medical treatment.

Typical signs of hormonal acne:

    Acne that comes and goes with the ebbs and flows of the menstrual cycle. This is caused by changes in the body's hormonal balance.
    Acne that flares up during pregnancy.
    You are suffering from chronic emotional or physiological stress. Stress can cause physiological stress that affects the hormone production and aggravate acne.

Help! I'm turning into a man!
Many other embarrassing or uncomfortable conditions can accompany adult acne. The following conditions indicate hyperandrogenism – an excess production of the "male" hormone androgen:

    Absent or irregular periods.
    Excess facial hair that grows in the pattern of male facial hair – that is, above the top lip, on the chin and on the side of the face.
    Female pattern baldness that looks like male baldness because it starts at the central scalp.
    A deeper, more masculine voice.
    Darkening of skin in your armpits and in your body folds (for example, the inside of your elbows).

Hyperandrogenism could be the cause of acne that occurs suddenly and severely. A female with acne or any of the symptoms above, should be examined for the possibility of an underlying problem with her adrenal or pituitary glands or with her ovaries. Diabetes can also affect the hormonal balance.

Treating hormonal acne in women
If you are a healthy woman with hormonal acne, then your dermatologist should be able to treat it for you. However, if you have an underlying disease of the ovaries, pituitary or adrenal glands or you have diabetes, then your acne should be treated in conjuction with the appropriate specialist physician.

Healthy women with acne will be given a treatment by their dermatologist that suits their specific needs and medical history. Treatment options include:

Oral contraceptive pills – The "pill" is an oestrogen-progesterone combination that alters the female's hormone pattern. Low-dose oral contraceptives are one of the oldest ways of treating mild to moderate hormonal acne. The pill can be taken for extended periods of time to control hormonal acne, unless the woman wants to fall pregnant. Many women do not like the pill because of its side-effects that can include weight gain, nausea, menstrual spotting and breast tenderness.

Oral corticosteroids – These are anti-inflammatory drugs that belong to a class of drugs produced by the adrenal glands. Oral corticosteroids can be prescribed to suppress androgen production and they can also suppress inflammation in severe acne. Weight gain and bone thinning are two of the main downsides of these drugs.

Antiandrogens – These drugs will reduce the androgen production in the ovaries and the adrenal glands and will block androgen reception by the cells in the sebaceous follicles. This will stop acne from forming. Side effects include irregular menstruation and breast tenderness, but these can be eased by taking the drug in conjunction with an oral contraceptive.

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