Adult Acne – Causes and Treatments

It may come as a surprise to some of you but teenagers are not the only age group to suffer from acne. Statistics show that almost 50% of female adults are likely to suffer from acne and 25% of male adults. For adults who suffer from acne it can be very frustrating because acne is traditionally associated with puberty and the teenage years. Adult acne is the term used for anyone over the age of 25 that suffers from acne.Why do I have acne as an adult?People develop acne when they are in their adult years for much the same reasons as why teenagers develop it though there are a few differences. Hormone imbalances – this especially applies to females when going through menstruation each month or beginning the menopause.
Stress – High levels of stress increase the severity of acne.
Lack of a healthy diet – a diet too high in fatty and sugary foods causes much oilier skin which leads to blocked pores and therefore acne.
Birth control – Again something specifically female related. The Pill or other methods of contraception that causes a change in hormone levels can cause a flare up of acne.
Genetics – acne has been found to be hereditary so see if any other family members suffer from the same problem.What can I do to treat my adult acne?Acne can sometimes increase in severity when it is developed in adult years. Acne is not just found on the face but can also flare up over the back, neck, stomach, anywhere. It is always advisable to seek out a doctor’s opinion on how to treat adult acne as not all treatments that are designed for teenagers will be as effective for adults.A healthy diet is paramount as an adult to help control acne. A diet that is low in fat and sugar will boost the immune system of the body and fight the bacteria causing the outbreak.
A healthy lifestyle is also as important. As the body gets older it is less able to fight off bacteria so it needs to be at its peak. This means no smoking or excessive drinking and to be fit and healthy.
Herbal and natural remedies are available both as raw ingredients, but, also ready-mixed to treat acne at home.
Shop bought products can also reduce swelling and inflammation but remember that the most expensive items do not necessarily mean that they are the most effective. Everyone has different skin tones and complexes and so will require something different.
Seek out advice from a doctor for severe cases as they will be able to prescribe antibiotics to reduce swelling.

Understanding Acne In Adults

Acne is usually associated with adolescents undergoing puberty. A large number of dermatologists would generally agree that more than 80% of adolescents experience the pain of being afflicted with this skin disorder. It seems that acne is beginning to get us when we are younger now, as kids of age 10 are being reported to suffer from this annoying skin problem.The painful thing about this skin disorder is the long duration it usually stays on the skin, being at least five years for a large number of adolescents. For so many unfortunate teenage acne sufferers, their acne problem could seem to remain on their skins forever, sometimes as long as eight years translating into what dermatologists later call adult acne because such individuals are no longer teenagers.As a number of young adults like myself have discovered, acne is not restricted to adolescents only. Although this skin disorder is more common in teenagers than in adults, the intensity could sometimes be very severe in adults. Many adults that are acne free tend to feel that adult acne is due to poor hygiene.That notion is plain wrong as there is no type of this skin disorder that is caused by poor hygiene, it could worsen the condition but it is not the main cause. Hormonal and chemical imbalances in your body are the major causes of the acne condition that you currently experience. Such imbalances in your body cause your sebaceous glands to secrete more oil (sebum) than usual, which in most situations results in pimples breakouts.A simple understanding of how acne pimples form on the skin would correct the notion that acne is caused by poor hygiene.. Every hair pore has a gland attached to it. This gland is called the sebaceous gland and it produces a sticky and greasy substance (sebum also know as oil). This oily substance (sebum) is very helpful in maintaining the skin’s moisture. This is your body’s way of preventing your skin from drying out. But it becomes a problem when the sebaceous glands produces too much sebum.This over production in sebum is as result of hormonal and chemical imbalances in your body. When the sebaceous glands produces an excess amount of sebum, the hair pores get blocked with both sebum and some dead skin cells. The clogged pores results in increased bacteria activity that produces an inflammation on the skin, which results in blackheads, whiteheads and in severe cases nodules and cysts.Going by some medical encyclopedia that I checked recently, a special kind of bacterium know as Propionibacterium lives on the human skin. This bacterium is harmless only when the amount of sebum (oil) produced by the sebaceous gland is of the normal quantity. The moment the sebaceous gland produces too much sebum this bacterium secretes enzymes and chemicals that results in an inflammation on the skin. This inflammation results in pimples, cyst, and nodules, which you see on your skin. Such pimples, cyst, and nodules if left untreated would definitely results in permanent and deep scars that would remind you of your adult acne every time you look in the mirror.Hormones and Adult AcneThere are quite a number of factors that affect the hormonal changes in your body, some of which are: the condition of the environment (pollution), ultraviolet rays, water and food intake. In modern times, farmers’ use various ways of ensuring a bountiful harvest, some of which include the use of growth steroids (in cattle), pesticides and genetically produced foods. All these affect the quality of the foods we consume and are one of the causes of hormonal and chemical imbalances in the body. Some other factors that could worsen your adult acne condition include:
Picking at or squeezing at the pimples
Side effects from some drugs – (contraceptive pills and some other drugs)
Harsh scrubbing of the skin
Use of Oil based cosmetic products
Stress, illness or exhaustion
Heat and moisture
Pregnancy
Menstruation
Menopause

The Difference Between Adult and Childhood ADHD

There are very few diseases or disorders that are diagnosed in children and don’t carry over into adulthood. ADHD or Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is one of those disorders that is usually diagnosed early on in childhood and persists throughout the persons life. It is a myth that as we become adults ADHD just disappears or goes away. In most cases the person will have some if not all the same symptoms in adulthood as they did in childhood. Even though diagnoses of ADHD in children have increased over the last decade, there are many cases that go undiagnosed. Some children are able to cope with mild symptoms and therefore they aren’t diagnosed until later on in life. Either way, most adults who are diagnosed with ADHD have had some types of symptoms all their life.For any parent, it is hard to accept that your child has a disease or disorder. Guilt, anger and frustration are normal reactions. However, denial plays another role in some parents inability to determine their children’s actions or rather symptoms. When parents, teachers, or adults dismiss their child’s symptoms for typical childhood hyperactivity or distraction, they are missing a key part of caring for their child’s welfare. Not all children experience all the symptoms of ADHD therefore parents may label their child as a troublemaker or dreamer if they show an inability to concentrate in school. However, even one symptom can lead to a diagnosis and should be taken seriously. Some kids may be able to compensate for their symptoms due to a higher intellectual level. As they age adulthood can exacerbate their symptoms due to increased responsibility, and a greater demand for organizational skills. Although diagnosis of this disorder in childhood, gives people more time to educate, learn and manage their ADHD, adult diagnosis requires the same education, support from family and friends and creativity to manage their symptoms.While the symptoms of ADHD are similar in childhood and adult ADHD, their appearance presents itself quite differently. Every individual has a unique set of symptoms and not all symptoms are required to diagnosis this disorder. Poor concentration, hyperactivity, distractibility, impulsiveness, and restlessness are key characteristics of ADHD. Adult ADHD primary symptoms include trouble concentrating or hyper focus, disorganization and forgetfulness, impulsivity, emotional difficulties, and restlessness. Adults are much less likely to be hyperactive than children, however it is included in the symptomology. If left untreated and undiagnosed adult ADHD can lead to problems in all areas of life, physical, mental, work, financial, and relationships.Adults who suffer from ADHD normally have trouble focusing, concentration or staying on task. Every day tasks are boring which lead to zoning out or extreme distractibility. It is difficult to pay attention or focus on the task at hand. Adults with ADHD struggle completing tasks, especially if they are simple tasks. Details are easily missed which cause errors or incomplete work and their ability to listen proper causes an inability to follow directions or remember what is required of them. On the other hand some adults with ADHD have the opposite problem. They become hyper focused on specific tasks. They become so absorbed in what they are doing because it is stimulating, exciting or rewarding. They may forget about time, space or location. They completely tune out the world around them. This is their way of coping with the chaos, which surrounds them on a day-to-day basis. Although, in some circumstances this is a good way to accomplish something, it normally causes the person to forget appointments, dates, time, deadlines and ultimately other things that have to be done.Most often than not an adult with ADHD has a hard time with organization. Disorganization is caused by the chaos that surrounds them. They feel like their life is out of control so organization is very difficult to maintain. This includes their house, car, and room, which are normally messy and cluttered. In addition, this person usually has a problem with forgetfulness. They procrastinate and are chronically late to appointments (if they even show up at all), bills, commitments and deadlines. Starting and finishing projects and tasks are very challenging. Because they procrastinate they normally don’t give themselves enough time to complete a task. Plus they are constantly losing or misplacing things, which causes inability to focus on the task at hand.Adults with ADHD are usually very impulsive and have trouble stopping themselves from performing these behaviors. Normally they have poor self control because their life is so chaotic, so it’s impossible for them to contain themselves from commenting, interrupting, blurting out thoughts or being inappropriate. Adults with ADHD have trouble behaving in a socially appropriate manner. They act upon what they think without any disregard for what they are saying or doing. They act spontaneously without any regard for the consequences, which can get them into trouble.Because most people who suffer with ADHD have suffered with it throughout their lives they have deep rooted feelings of embarrassment, frustration, hopelessness, disappointment, loss of confidence and underachievement. This leads to emotional difficulties in relationships with friends, families and partners. They are easily frustrated and irritated. Although, temper tantrums are more recognized in children, adults with ADHD have trouble dealing with frustration and stress and may have very violent mood swings, and explosive tempers.. They are very hypersensitive to criticism, which leads to a lack of motivation. Most adult ADHD have low self esteem and are very insecure.Hyperactivity in adults with ADHD presents itself more as restlessness, rather than hyperactivity. Adults with ADHD tend to become bored very easily which leads to taking risks, trouble sitting still, and constant craving for attention and excitement. They have an inner agitation that leads to racing thoughts, excessive talking, constant fidgeting and trying to do a million things at once.Adults who suffer from ADHD and are untreated are more likely to have addictive tendencies. This can lead to compulsive eating, substance abuse, debt, and impulsive spending. Without understanding and management it will be hard for individuals to hold down a job or have meaningful relationships. Low self esteem will always play a role in the severity of their symptoms, however with the right support, adults with ADHD can lead productive, and active lives.