So you passed your exams, sailed through adolescence, and managed to hit your fortieth birthday and you are still plagued with breakouts? You may wonder how this can be happening to you retin a cream reviews. It’s called adult acne and it is more common than you think.
Pimples are clogged pores that become inflamed due to bacterial growth. A plug of dead skin debris and keratin gets lodged stuck in a hair follicle causing it to swell. Unlike the blackheads you remember from high school, the adult version typically show up as hard cysts around your mouth, temples, chin and jawline, and even your back. Cystic acne can leave dark spots called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation that can linger for months or permanent scars, so the earlier you get treatment, the better. Unfortunately, this kind of severe acne doesn’t usually respond to over-the-counter treatments alone and requires intervention from your dermatologist.
The first course of therapy is often topical vitamin A creams or gels called retinoids that can unclog pores in mild to moderate acne, and fight the onslaught of wrinkles at the same time so there is an added benefit. Retin-A, Retin-A Micro, Differin are some of the most popular prescription retinoids available. Azelaic acid is another popular blemish buster, and it is found in prescription creams such as Tazorac and Avage. In some cases, topical antibiotics, such as erythromycin and clindamycin, or oral antibiotics, such as tetracycline, can help to reduce inflammation. The treatment of last resort for cystic acne is Accutane or Sotret (isotretinoin). It is extremely effective and has been reported to clear acne is 80-90% of cases, but there are some side effects and risks.
Some of the main triggers cited for adult acne flareups are using the wrong cosmetics, overdoing your moisturizer, hormonal flux and stress. Women are programmed to slap on the moisturizer when we fear the onset of lines and wrinkles. But if your skin is still prone to blemishes and has an oily shine by noon, you don’t need heavy creams and emollient formulas. Stick with only non-comedogenic gels, lotions, sunscreen and foundation, preferably oil-free and matte. Avoid touching your face too frequently throughout the day which can spread bacteria, and exfoliate daily to keep pores clean, open and unplugged with debris. Keratolytics, such as glycolic and salicylic acids, will help slough dead cells that can cause clogged follicles and inflammation. Another popular treatment method are the pimple busting devices that use heat energy to get the root of the pimple before it becomes your third eye. Look for these brands for best results: Zeno, ClearTouch Lite and ThermaClear.
The big culprit, stress, causes your body to release cortisol, which promoted hormonal activity that overstimulate oil glands. It is a vicious cycle. When you are under pressure from deadlines, anxiety, financial woes, traveling and lack of sleep, your acne gets worse. Having breakouts causes more stress, and the cycle continues. However from my experiences many of the creams advertised as being anti-aging do not live up to their claims, leaving many of us out of pocket in the process. I know because I’m one of the many women around my age that have been willing to part with excessive amounts of money for over priced products that don’t live up to their claims.
At the beginning of my anti-aging quest I was hopeful, even excited by the promises of the many popular brands. I was eager to try their products and spent untold amounts of money buying product after product hoping that one day I’ll find the magic one that worked for me. And now after several years of following this pursuit all I have to show for it is several expensive jars of half used products sat gathering dust in my closet and of course my bank balance has taken a serious hit along the way too.
For those that are at the beginning of their anti-aging journey, as far as creams are concerned I would suggest ignoring the many claims of companies trying to flog you their latest miracle product, I would also take caution in being swayed by the reviews of their customers. Instead I would suggest saving yourself time and a heck of a lot of money by going for what is guaranteed and proven to work and that is retin A and vitamin C. Retin A will be available from your doctor and there are many websites offering advice on how to use it and where its available. Vitamin C again is readily available and you can even make your own DIY vitamin C serum, there are plenty of beauty websites across the Internet with recipes for them.
My last piece of advice and the most important, is that slathering your face with any kind of cream or serum is pointless and counterproductive if your lifestyle isn’t supporting your efforts. The importance of getting good quality rest, staying out of the sun and eating a good diet cannot be underestimated. I’ve found the best products for my skin have come out of a packet rather than a jar; vitamins and supplements have had a dramatic effect on my skin, everything from texture and color to wrinkles and sagging have improved by taking good quality antioxidants and supplements.