Adult acne: Why you get it, How to treat it - Skincare - Parlor in Malviya Nagar

You're not a teenager, but still have acne...
Thought you had left acne behind in college? Think again, acne can come back to haunt you in adulthood. Statistics reveal that acne comes back to haunt 65% of women and 35% of men in their 20s, 30s and 40s.

Causes for adult acne

Hormonal imbalance: Sensitivity or over production of testosterone, or an imbalance in the female hormone oestrogen during perimenopause and menopause act as triggers for acne. Another condition called polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) leads to hormonal fluctuations, of which acne is a by-product. Oral contraceptive pills can also trigger acne in adults.

Stress, emotional disturbances and pollution can also cause a flare-up.

Weather: Acne is rampant during winter. One theory is that the creams we use to hydrate dry skin trigger acne because of excess oil. Summer too can be tricky -- as the heat causes sweating -- which means more oil clogs the pores. Also, sunscreen used liberally during summer may contain oil or equivalent substances.

Skin type: Oily skin produces excess sebum a fluid present in sebaceous glands of our skin. Hence oily skin or combination skin on the t-zone (forehead, nose and chin) is more prone to acne. Take the tissue test to know your skin type.

Cosmetics: Most people use their bathing bar on the face too. This may be too harsh for the delicate skin on the face. Changing beauty products at random is an absolute NO. When you find certain products that go well with your skin and do not cause breakouts, stick to them instead of buying whatever catches your fancy. Avoid oil-based products, as they aggravate the problem. Other substances to avoid are sodium lauryl sulphate, laureth -4 and D and C red dyes.

Genetics: No matter how much care you take of your face, your flare ups are linked to your genes. If your parents suffered from this problem chances are you won’t be able to wish it away. But we can definitely take solace from the fact that acne is treatable if not curable.
Signs and symptoms of adult acne

Most adults end up with acne at some point in time. Apart from the face it can also appears on the back, buttocks, arms and underarms.

Acne may present itself as elevated pink spots called pimples. If the opening of the pore is clogged it is called a whitehead, but if it is deep-seated with dirt and debris, and has a wide opening on the skin it's a blackhead.

Diagnosing adult acne
The diagnosis of acne is fairly simple due to its characteristic appearance. Sometimes acne scars may be visible in long standing cases.

Treatment for adult acne

Acne can be effectively treated using topical medication, oral antibiotics or both.

Topical medication includes benzoyl peroxide, retinoic acid and antibiotic ointments.
Benzoyl peroxide is available in strengths of 2.5 – 5%. Generally, a lesser strength is prescribed as it may cause skin reddening and irritation.

Retinoic acid acts as a peeling agent and is prescribed at night as it may cause irritation if skin is exposed to the sun after application.

Topical antibiotics like clindamycin are prescribed in some cases.
Oral drugs: Antibiotics like tetracycline or dapsone are prescribed in more severe cases.
Complications seen in adult acne:

The longer you live with acne without getting it treated, the more chances you have of the acne leaving permanent scars. Hence, it is advisable to consult a dermatologist promptly and follow a morning and nighttime skincare regimen daily to treat it and prevent it from getting worse.

If acne is disrupting your life, seek help from a counsellor or guide. The social stigma that acne causes should not be suffered in silence. Pursue hobbies, meet friends and relatives and don’t worry about it.

Adult acne prevention
Follow these tips and tricks for a clear complexion.

Take off make-up thoroughly: As soon as you’re home make it a habit to remove all make-up thoroughly. And to make the job easier, don’t put on lots of it in the first place.

Fine tune your cleansing technique: Use a mild cleanser like Cetaphil and then a toner. Now apply your topical medication. Cleansing should be done twice a day.

Leave it alone: Never squeeze pimple and whiteheads. Pimples means it is an inflammation and touching it may cause the infection to spread. The only exception is when the pimple has a yellow dot in the centre. That indicates pus inside and gently squeezing it will bring out the pus and enable it to heal faster. So in that case, squeeze the puss out till a little blood flows out.

Apply medication the right way: When applying an ointment don’t just apply it on the acne spot. Go half an inch around it as this prevents more pimples.

Don’t be too aggressive: Slathering on too many products at a time is detrimental. Use only those tubes prescribed by your doctor.

Five skincare tips to beat the summer - Skincare - Parlor in Malviya Nagar

Exfoliate
Exfoliate, and do it more often in the summers. More than the rest of the year, during summers there is an acceleration of dead skin cell accumulation. If you don’t get rid of them, your skin will look dull and dry. No matter how much lotion or anything else you use, you won’t have glowing skin if you do not exfoliate. Choose a light scrub for your face and body. Or make one at home using some oatmeal and milk or gram flour and yoghurt.

Stay hydrated
All the heat and sweating can leave your body dehydrated and your skin dry. So drinking water and liquids at regular intervals becomes a must for soft, moisturised skin. It’s best to stick to water, green tea and fresh fruit juices (sans sugar), buttermilk and coconut water and the kind. Stay away from aerated drinks, they only do further damage to your skin.

Sun protection
Try and stay indoors between peak sun time between 11 am and 3pm. Also, don’t ever step out without a generous application of your sunscreen. Dermatologist Juvitha Rasquinha stresses on sun screen with a higher SPF: “In the summer season, in addition to an increase in temperature, there in an increase in UV ray intensity that bears down upon the skin. Use of a sunscreen with SPF 30 preferably with a moisturiser is strongly recommended to prevent skin damage from the harsh sun in the summer months.” Also, cover your head, wear sunglasses… they make a difference.

Cool your body
Summer is the time for heat boils and other such notorious skin conditions. A lot of the time, this has to do with body heat. Stock up on natural coolants like tender coconut water, buttermilk, or even barley water to help bring down the heat within your body. And you’ll watch those heat boils disappear.

Want to remove tan? These might help:
Make a paste of one almond, 5 drops of lemon and a teaspoon of milk. Apply on face and leave it on overnight and wash with warm water the next morning. This helps even out complexion and will give you a healthy summer glow! You could also try coconut milk. Leave this too on all night. If you breakout often, then rub on tomato juice all over your face and leave for ten minutes. Do this a few times during the week to get rid of tan.

Get Rid of Facial Hair Naturally - Parlor in Malviya Nagar

Facial hair not only looks unpleasant, but, can also cause embarrassment to some. Unwanted facial hair, if in excess, can also make your face look darker than its natural shade. There are many ways to get rid of facial hair, such as bleaching and waxing, etc. But, many of these come with their own side-effects. So, here are some natural ways in which you can get rid of those unwanted facial hair.

Go for natural bleach

There are many natural bleaching agents that you can use at home, instead of spending your money on expensive chemical ones. Here are some natural ingredients that are known for their natural skin bleaching properties:

Rub some Potato

Take a potato and slice it into half. Apply some water on its surface and rub it on your face. It will lighten the colour of your facial hair and will make your skin soft and supple.

Use Tomatoes

Take a slice of tomato and rub it on your face. Do this for 5 minutes and then wash your face. In a few days, you will notice your hair colour lightening.

Lemon juice and Honey

Add few drops of lemon juice to honey and apply the mixture on face. Rub it in the same direction of the hair growth. Leave it for 20 minutes and then rinse it off. Repeat this procedure at least twice a week.

Papaya Pulp

Take half a cup of papaya pulp and mix it with one tablespoon of milk. Make a thick paste of it. Then rub it gently on your face and leave it for 10 minutes. After this rinse it off. This mixture serves as a natural bleach.

Home-made facial Scrubs

You spend your time using chemical based scrubs on your face to discourage the growth of facial hair, well why not use some home-made natural scrubs:

Sugar

Mix sugar (30gm) and freshly squeezed lemon juice (10ml), with water to make a paste. Apply it on your face and rub it in the direction of your hair growth. Rinse it off after 15 minutes using cold water. Sugar acts as an exfoliating agent, while lemon juice will act as an astringent on your face.

Uptan benefits

Here is a home-made scrub that is quite popularly known as uptan. Mix chickpeas flour (besan), green gram flour, turmeric powder, rose water, and milk. Prepare a thick paste and scrub your face for two minutes. Use this scrub consistently to get rid of your facial hair, naturally.

Salt

Another good scrub can be prepared by mixing turmeric and salt in some lemon juice and milk. Salt would exfoliate your face and will also remove unwanted facial hair. Massage this scrub for 5 minutes before rinsing it off.

Banana and Oatmeal

First take a ripe banana and mash it. Then add some oatmeal to it. Apply this scrub on your face in circular movement. Do this for 15 minutes before rinsing it off.

Flour scrubs

Gram flour is very good to discourage facial growth on face. Take some gram flour (30gm) and mix it with 10ml of lemon juice and a cup of water (150ml). Make a thick paste and rub it over your face. Some even believe that whole wheat flour is also good as it not only discourages facial hair but also removes unwanted black heads.

Home-made wax

Here is a home-made cold wax formula for you. Prepare a mix of sugar (2 cups) and lemon juice (1/4 cup) in half a cup of water. Heat it on a low flame and keep stirring it. It should become a thick brown liquid. Use it when it cools down slightly. Dust the area, where you want to apply, with some corn flour or powder. Apply it using a butter knife and place a waxing strip or a clean cloth over that. Pull it off in the opposite direction of the hair growth. After this immediately apply some astringent and ice over that area to close the open pores.

But remember, whenever you make this mix do not try this directly on your face. Always do a patch test on the back of your hand or arm first, to check its consistency.

Additional Ways

Other than these natural bleaches and scrubs, here are some more ways to discourage your facial growth naturally:

Turmeric and Milk

Mix some turmeric with milk to make a thick paste. Then apply it on your face. After it dries off, rub it off using gentle circular motions. This would not only discourage facial growth but will also leave a glow on your face.

Try egg white

If you can stand the smell of egg, then an egg white can also prove to be a good option for your problem. Add some sugar to it before applying it on your face. Let it stay, till it dries. After that rinse it off and do rememeber to use a toner after that.

Take care of your face

It is very important to use cleansing milk especially after removing makeup. It is always a good skin care routine to use a toner every time after face wash.

Hormones imbalance

Excessive hair growth can also be due to imbalance hormonal level. In such a case, you must see a doctor immediately rather than trying any activities yourself.