Acne in the Over 40s

Many people regard acne as a problem that can arise only in teenager. However, there are many women who find themselves encountering a brand new zit every morning well after they have reached the age of forty. A recent study found that 88% of skin specialists come across middle aged individuals seeking treatment for acne.

What causes acne at this old an age?

The experts cannot stress more on the role that stress has to play in the appearance of zits and pimples on your face. The largest organ of your body, your skin is the most receptive to external and internal stimuli and is quick to react in ways which will not please you at times. Whenever you are under a lot of stress, the level of your stress hormones shoots to a degree that changes the various elements on your blood. This speeds up your sebaceous glands; the secretion of which when reacts with bacteria on your skin gives rise to the nastiest zits you’ll ever see.

The second biggest cause is the fact that your body is coming closer to the phenomena of menopause: the cessation of the menstrual cycle. This means that all the major functions of your body will undergo drastic changes including your skin. This massive change in hormones gives rise to acne along with visible changes in the texture of your skin.

A poor and sugar-rich diet along with pollution is the closest contender for causes acne. Some other reasons for the appearance of acne in the late thirties and forties are:

  • Dysbiosis: disturbed gastrointestinal tract
  • Food intolerance
  • Air pollution
  • Drugs such as anticonvulsants and barbiturates etc
  • Vitamin D deficiency

More information can be read at acne.org

What are the effective remedies?

It is important to understand that keeping calm is the best way to deal with this situation as the more you stress about your acne issue, the more you will aggravate it.

There are many remedies that can help in getting rid of acne.

  • Talk to your doctor about the use of the contraceptive pill. This will help resolve the issue of acne if it has arisen as a result of hormonal disturbances.
  • Keeping hydrated so that the water can flush out all the toxins will help you to a tremendous extent.
  • It is also advisable to follow a good cleansing routine to make sure that your skin is clear from the outside and there are no clogged pores to give rise to acne.
  • It is always better to have an exercise regimen which helps clear your skin on a deeper level.
  • One of the quickest ways to reduce your acne is getting at least 15 minutes of sunlight every day.
  • Make sure you do not eat a lot of sugar which has inflammatory effects on your skin.
  • Never forget to remove make up before you go to bed no matter how tired you are.

If your acne persists then there is the possibility of medical intervention in the form of antibiotic medication (such as Oxytetracycline) or topical gels and solutions such as Duac or Zineryt. These can be prescribed by your GP. You can find our more about the options available at this website – www.theonlineclinic.co.uk.