It's so hard to describe the feeling of living with acne, I remember not wanting to go out, feeling like everyone was staring at my skin, and they were, I was modeling and supposed to have perfect skin; makeup artists would make rude comments, huff and puff about having to apply layers of concealer, I cringed inside and became more and more withdrawn. I could go on and on about how acne lowers your self esteem, makes you feel like you want to crawl in a dark room for life but I suppose if your reading this you already have a good idea what I mean so I will spare you any more of the gory details.
In this picture below I had foundation caked on covering my pimples, thank goodness for great lighting and fabulous makeup techniques, this was French Elle circa 1984.
Why Me and Not Her???
Oily skin is hard to control because it's the result of genetically determined hormonal changes in your body, and you simply cannot control hormones topically. The hormones responsible for oily skin are called androgens—the male hormones—and they are present in both men and women.
Androgens stimulate healthy oil production, and while that truly has benefit for your skin, it is a problem when androgens stimulate too much oil to be produced! When too much oil is produced, the pores become larger to accommodate the excess oil production. Excess androgens can also cause the pore lining to thicken, which blocks oil from getting out of the pore, and that can result in blackheads and white bumps.
YOUR NOT ALONE check out these actresses with breakouts and oily skin.
So What Helps Unblock Pores?
GLYCOLIC ACID
Glycolic acid is found naturally in sugar cane and grapes and is commonly used in skin care problems including acne treatment, exfoliation, and chemical peels. For daily use find a daily cleanser with 8 to 10 percent concentration of Glycolic acid. Also try a weekly regimen of Glycolic acid peels for up to 6 weeks. Glycolic helps smooth out uneven facial tone and can even reduce the appearance of surgical scars, acne scars, and other blemishes.
So it’s not surprising that many older women turn to milder remedies, some of which also take into account that their blemishes sit atop dry, sensitive skin.
Products Please!!
1. Aczone (dapsone) shown to be gentle for dyer not 20 year old skin
2. Atralin Gel
3. Retin-A Micro 0.04 percent gel.
SALYCIC ACID
Another excellent exfoliating (pore de- clogging) ingredient for oily skin is salicylic acid (BHA). Salicylic acid exfoliates not only the surface of your skin but also inside the pore lining, thus improving pore function and allowing oil to flow easily to the surface, so it doesn't get backed up and plug the pore. In addition, over time, regular use of a BHA exfoliant will help fade the red marks from past blemishes, yippie!
Another benefit of salicylic acid is that it has anti-inflammatory properties, so it reduces irritation, which helps to calm oil production, lessens flaming red pimples.
More Products Please!
1. Garnier Pure Active
2. Clinique Mild Clarifying Lotion
3. Neutrogena Deep Clean
Skin Ceuticals a brand favored by some dermatologists, recently introduced Blemish + Age Defense, a serum that combines 2 percent dioic acid with an alpha- and beta-hydroxy acid, and is designed to prevent acne, reduce hyperpigmentation and make fine lines and wrinkles less apparent.
Elle.com recommends the products below for controlling Adult Acne.
IS IT WHAT I EAT??
There is no definitive proof that specific foods cause breakouts, but some medical professionals say diet can play a role. “Whenever hormones surge — around your period, during peri-menopause and menopause, when you’re pregnant, when you start or stop the Pill, and, yes, when you’re stressed or eat hormone-enhanced foods, i.e. nonorganic meat and dairy, skin changes can occur,” said Dr. Jeanine Downie, a dermatologist in Montclair, N.J.
Whatever the cause, hormonal havoc can overstimulate oil glands to pump out extra sebum, said Dr. Joshua Zeichner, director of cosmetic and clinical research in the dermatology department at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York. But aging skin is also drier, in part because of the cumulative effects of sun exposure. So when it comes to treatment, “less can be more, especially when it comes to adult acne,” Dr. Zeichner said.
I Finally found relief from my problematic skin with Retin- A, Glycolic and Salycic ingredients one of my favorites being Neutrogena's Rapid Clear Pads, drinking freshly made juices and Tons of water. Good Luck and please SHARE products that work for you and your experiences!
