Adult Acne: Myth Or Reality? (Part II)

Lets continue from where we left off last week..........Mission unclog your pores once and for all and let your beautiful skin glow.

Now that we know what causes are behind the unsightly acne affliction. Next order of business is planning how to get rid of them and keep your skin clear.

PIMPLE-BUSTING PROTOCOL

1. STRESS LESS

First things first: Don't freak out if bumps show up; it'll only make things worse. Get eight hours of sleep each night—it's how much you need to reduce excess cortisol and let your skin regenerate—and making time for stress-relieving activities like a 30-minute daily workout or even (yes!) sex to stay Zen. These reduce excess cortisol and produce endorphins, which have a calming effect. Bonus? Exercise delivers oxygen to your skin cells, making it hard for CV hating acne bacteria to thrive.

2. TREAT TOPICALLY

Though the same ingredients that clear up teen acne also work for the adult kind, grown-up skin is thinner and more prone to irritation—so you need a gentler, more moisturizing approach. Using an acne wash, an acne lotion, and an anti-aging cream simultaneously may dry out the skin.

Start slowly: Wash your face twice a day with a salicylic acid cleanser to help dissolve dirt and oil and gently exfoliate the skin (if skin is on the dry side, cut back to once a day). Try Babe Atop AKN Cleanising gel. If zits persist, cover them in a thin layer of a lotion with 0.5 to 2 percent salicylic acid at night (La Roche-Posay Effaclar K Daily Renovating Acne Treatment). After two weeks—the amount of time it takes for your skin to get used to a new product—bump it up to twice a day. Got wrinkles too? Try a retinoid cream instead. It smooths lines and speeds up the shedding of dead skin cells so they don't block pores. Try RoC Multi Correxion Night Treatment or Pharmagel Bio A Lotion.

Either way, slather on oil free SPF every morning, as zit fighters can make skin sun-sensitive. Olay Professional Pro-X Clear UV Moisturizer SPF 15.

3. BE STARCH-SMART

High-glycemic-index (GI) carbohydrates like white bread and sugar-laden foods aren't just waistline saboteurs: They raise blood sugar and insulin levels, another male-hormone-boosting process that may lead to breakouts. Balance your hormones with low-GI eats-think whole grains and veggies—that won't aggravate acne. As for chocolate, despite past research that put the sweet stuff in the clear, a more recent study by the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine found that men who consumed six ounces of 100 percent pure cocoa daily got breakouts in a week. It's likely that chocolate affects a woman's skin the same way.

4. CONSIDER POPPING A PILL

If your pimples come out to play about a week before your period, your doctor may prescribe an oral contraceptive to help stabilize hormone levels throughout the month. Birth control pills like Diane, Yaz, and Yasmin contain analog hormones that may help clear the skin. (Or you can try spironolactone, a drug that may help nix breakouts and is available by prescription.) Birth control pills can also help women who overproduce male hormones, as in the case of PCOS (ask your doctor for a blood test if you have other hormone-related issues, such as an irregular cycle).

5. VISIT A DERM—STAT!

If you're plagued with deep, painful red bumps that just won't go away, schedule a doctor's appointment ASAP. Cystic acne heals slowly and can leave permanent marks. Your dermatologist will prescribe a topical retinoid (like Retin-A), antibiotic (to kill bacteria and reduce inflammation), or Aczone—an anti-acne, anti inflammatory gel that's great for those with sensitive or aging skin. 

Curious about Accutane? It works as a last resort for severe teen acne, but it won't combat the underlying hormonal issues of adult acne. It may come with unpleasant side effects  like depression, headaches, and thinning hair. Plus, you can't take it while pregnant—it can cause birth defects—or breastfeeding.