Adult acne: fighting the spots

When yet another ugly spot rears its head, teenagers are often consoled with the thought that at least acne will be a thing of the past when they reach adulthood.

Unfortunately, this dream of a flawless complexion is often not realised . Indeed, with adult acne affecting many women from their 20s through to their 40s, some find flare-ups are even more common - or occur for the first time - as they age.

According to the British Association of Dermatologists, 14% of women aged 26 to 44 suffer from adult acne, but this only accounts for those who have sought the help of a dermatologist. With GPs, skin therapists and cosmetic counters also seeing their fair share of women with this problem, some estimates place the number of sufferers at a far higher 50-60% of adult women.

What causes this? Candice Gardner, Education Curriculum Manager at the International Dermal Institute and Dermalogica ambassador explains: "In adults hormonal fluctuations associated with monthly cycles, changes or discontinuation of contraceptive pills, pregnancy, breast feeding and the post-partum phase of pregnancy are all triggers. Stress is also an important trigger, as it increases sebaceous activity and promotes the development of breakouts."

With adult acne such a common and upsetting problem, it is important that beauty therapists understand and can deal with the issue.

Candice gives the following advice to share with those suffering with adult acne:

Avoid touching the lesions because fingers and nails harbour bacteria that can infect and aggravate the condition. 

Avoid pro-inflammatory foods such as fatty meats, refined vegetable oils, sugar and alcohol as these will affect the inflammation associated with acne.

Choose foods or supplements containing omega 3 and zinc, as they promote healing and healthier skin.

Establish a good skincare routine at home that includes cleansing to regulate sebum and prevent clogging.

Target the pores with an exfoliator that includes salicylic acid, as this keeps cell build up to a minimum and reduces breakouts.

Apply medicated products to the skin at night, but protect and hydrate during the day - many adults find that although they still suffer from spots, their skin is not as greasy as during their teens, so moisturising is important.

Choose treatments that don't involve too many stages and avoid European-style massage which can over-stimulate the skin.

Try to tackle the issue by balancing hormone levels through diet and supplementation before visiting a GP - they often deal with the symptoms rather than the cause, so flare-ups reoccur once treatment is finished.

Six of the best...spot-busting products

Shu Uemura pore clarifying foaming cleansing water contains water lily extract to inhibit bacterial growth and salicylic acid to remove dead skin cells.

£25

www.shuuemura.co.uk

The Murad Acne Complex Kit is a three-step system promising to leave skin clear, smooth and healthy-looking.

£62

0844 472 7050

www.murad.co.uk

Designed to prevent blemishes from forming and reduce the appearance of existing imperfections, Thalgo Thalgodermyl Purifying Extracts is ideal for oily or combination skin.

£37

020 7512 0872

www.thalgo.com

Caudalie Purifying Mask is a non-drying mask that absorbs excess sebum.

£21.50

0207 498 8944

uk.caudalie.com

Treat breakouts during sleep with Dermalogica Overnight Clearing Gel.

£40.30

01372 363600

www.dermalogica.co.uk

Take the shine off an oily complexion with Clarins Ultra Matte Rebalancing Lotion.

£25

0800 036 3558

www.clarins.co.uk