You survived adolescence, with its pitfalls and pinnacles. You’re free of the trials and tribulations of your early 20s. But on the road of life, other hazards loom — rosacea and adult acne, which can plague even the most timeworn skin. And you thought you’d seen your last blemish.
At First Blush
Rosacea is a common skin condition that causes redness and tiny bumps on the face. It affects about 13 million American adults, particularly fair-skinned people between ages 30 and 50. Women tend to develop rosacea more often than men, but the condition is often more severe in men.
Early signs of rosacea include a tendency to flush easily. The redness becomes more persistent, and eventually blood vessels or pimples appear. Some people may develop ocular rosacea (conjunctivitis), a grittiness and burning sensation in the eyes.
If you notice symptoms, see your doctor. Once diagnosed, rosacea can be treated.
The exact cause of rosacea is unknown; however, there are certain things that can make rosacea worse. These include:
- Sunlight and temperature extremes
- Stress, anger or excitement
- Hot drinks and hot foods, spicy foods and alcohol
- Irritating cosmetics and other facial products
- Strenuous exercise
- Certain medications
Avoiding these risk factors may help lessen symptoms. Your doctor may also recommend certain soaps, moisturizers and sunscreen products to improve the condition.
Topical medications are usually necessary to help clear symptoms of rosacea. Oral antibiotics usually work faster. Laser surgery may be used to reduce blood vessels and swelling. The most successful treatment will likely be a combination of medication and self-care. Remember, rosacea will get worse without treatment and will most likely come back if you stop treatment.
Seeing Spots
About one in five adults between ages 25 and 44 have mild to moderate acne. Blemishes can form on your face, neck, chest, back and shoulders and upper arms. In severe cases, acne may cause scarring.
Acne occurs when hair follicles (pores) become clogged. Hair follicles are connected to sebaceous glands, which produce sebum, an oily substance. Sebum helps lubricate your hair and skin. When too much sebum is produced, it combines with dead skin cells to clog pores, creating whiteheads, blackheads, pimples
and cysts.
No one knows exactly what causes the increased production of sebum. Possible causes include hormonal changes, stress, heredity, bacteria buildup on the skin and some medications. Your diet does not cause acne, nor does dirt. In fact, if you wash your face too vigorously or too often, you may worsen acne.
There are things you can do to help control acne. Wash the area with a mild cleanser. Don’t use astringents, scrubs or masks, which can irritate your skin and make acne worse. If you use cosmetics, look for products that are formulated to not cause acne. Use oil-free moisturizer, sunscreen and foundation. Wash your face at night to remove any makeup.
For a serious case of acne, you may want to see your doctor. Topical creams and lotions, products that help unblock plugged pores and reduce bacteria or oral antibiotics may be used. Finally, don’t squeeze or pick those pimples! This can lead to infection or scarring.
With proper self-care and advice from your doctor, you can conquer your angst about adult skin problems.
Resources
For more information, contact these organizations:
National Rosacea Society
888-NO-BLUSH (888-662-5874)
www.rosacea.org
American Academy of Dermatology
www.aad.org
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