Adult Acne Tips
June marks National Acne Awareness Month across the United States, and experts are encouraging adults with any form of acne to visit the doctor to establish a healthy skin care regimen that includes acne treatment tailored for individual skin types and lifestyles. With the common misconception that acne only affects teenagers, adults are often surprised, confused and embarrassed to experience acne after their adolescent years. However, due to factors such as genetics, hormones, stress, birth control and medication, a study in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found that 50.9 percent of women, and 42.5 percent of men between the ages of 20-29 reported having acne.(1),(2) Acne can occur in different severities including mild, moderate and severe, and even a few pimples or sporadic breakouts may be categorized as mild to moderate acne.
Acne is the most common skin condition in the United States and affects approximately 60 million Americans.(3) National Acne Awareness Month was established by Galderma Laboratories, L.P. to help adults and teens alike understand that acne is a medical condition that can be successfully treated with help from a physician. In partnership with Galderma, two leading experts have teamed up to provide adults with advice on managing and concealing acne through medication and make-up. Dr. Linda Stein Gold, Director, Dermatology Clinical Research, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit and Division Head, Dermatology, Henry Ford Health System, West Bloomfield, and Collier Strong, celebrity make-up artist for L’Or�al Paris and Project Runway, share their top 5 tips for adults who want to look and feel their best:
Dr. Stein Gold’s Top 5 Tips for Managing Adult Acne
- Blame Biology - It is important to understand that acne is a medical condition caused by genetic and environmental factors, and it does not just “go away” after the teen years.
- Find a Dermatologist - It’s a good idea for women to visit the dermatologist and receive a baseline skin exam. In addition to discussing moles, sunspots and wrinkles, if you have acne, use this time to talk to the doctor about what prescription treatment is best for your skin type and lifestyle.
- Give Your Regimen a Tune-Up - Adults should consider acne treatment as part of their daily skin care regimen, such as removing makeup, washing their face and moisturizing; it is just as important in maintaining healthy skin. Another tip — always make sure to wear sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher and reapply every 2 hours while out in the sun.
- Tailor Your Treatment - Often, hormonal therapy like birth control pills are used to treat acne that occurs during the menstrual cycle, but it is often best in combination with topical treatments including a retinoid, benzoyl peroxide and/or an antibiotic.
- Take Control - Most importantly, don’t be embarrassed to have acne as an adult. It is much more common than you would think, and often very simple to get under control with the help of a doctor.
Collier Strong’s Top 5 Tips for Concealing Adult Acne
- Plan Ahead - Whether it’s a red carpet event, special birthday, anniversary or date night, no woman wants to be caught off-guard by a breakout. I always advise my celebrity clients to visit the dermatologist to treat any type of acne, and to ask the doctor about using make-up to conceal acne, as some types of cosmetics and over the counter products can irritate the skin.
- Keep ‘Em Clean - It is important to use clean sponges or brushes to apply concealer and foundation, instead of applying with the fingertips which can irritate the skin and add bacteria. Keep your brushes clean with either a gentle cleanser like shampoo or a brush cleaner found in a beauty supply store; also the disposable foam sponges are great because you can use a clean one for each application.
- Conceal it, Don’t Reveal It - Although green and yellow-tinted primers may seem intimidating, they can be a girl’s best friend for anyone with redness in their skin. To conceal major redness and bumps, start with a green tinted primer, and then use a yellow undertoned foundation. With a clean sponge gently apply the primer and foundation, and use a concealer applied with a clean brush for added coverage.
- Play Up Your Best Features - Distract the eye away from problem areas by being strategic about what to emphasize. For example, if a woman is experiencing pimples around her chin, try a neutral toned lipstick and play up the eyes.
- Be a Bronze Beauty - Lastly, avoid using blush if you have acne on your cheeks and try bronzer instead. After going through all of the trouble to minimize redness, what women don’t want to do is add more onto their face.
For more information about National Acne Awareness month, and tips for getting acne under control, visit www.acnemonth.com.
About Acne
Acne vulgaris is one of the most widely experienced chronic skin diseases. In recent years, research has lead to a greater understanding of the pathogenesis of the disease.(4) The disorder begins with the onset of puberty and is thought to result from hormonal action on the skin’s oil glands (sebaceous glands) leading to plugged pores and outbreaks.(5) It can be challenging to manage due to the variability in response to treatment and the need for long-term therapy.(6)
About Galderma
Galderma, created in 1981 as a joint venture between Nestle and L’Or�al, is a fully-integrated specialty pharmaceutical company dedicated exclusively to the field of dermatology. The Company has a presence in 65 countries with over 1000 sales representatives and is committed to improving the health of skin with an extensive line of products across the world that treat a range of dermatological conditions including: acne, rosacea, fungal nail infections, psoriasis & steroid-responsive dermatoses, pigmentary disorders, medical solutions for skin senescence and skin cancers. With a research and development center in Sophia Antipolis, France, Galderma has one of the largest R&D facilities dedicated exclusively to dermatology. Leading U.S. brands include Epiduo Gel, Differin Gel, 0.3%, Differin Lotion, 0.1%, MetroGel 1%, Oracea, Cetaphil, Tri-Luma Cream, and Vectical Ointment.
For more information on Galderma, please visit their web site, www.galderma.com.
Reference
1. Collier CN Harper JC Cantrell WC et al. The prevalence of acne in adults 20 years and older. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2008.
2. Acne.org. Adult Acne. Accessed on May 2, 2011. Available at http://www.acne.org/adult-acne.html.
3. The Acne Resource Center Online. Acne Statistics. Accessed on April 1, 2011. Available at http://www.acne-resource.org/understanding-acne/acne-statistics.html.
4. Gollnick H, Cunliffe WJ, Berson D et al. Management of Acne: A Report From a Global Alliance to Improve Outcomes in Acne. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2003; 49(1):S1-S37.
5. Nemours Foundation. Why Do I Get Acne? http://www.kidshealth.org/teen/your_body/skin_stuff/acne.html.
6. Thiboutot D, Pariser DM, Egan N et al. Adapalene gel 0.3% for the treatment of acne vulgaris: A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2006; 54:242-50.
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