Feeling like a teenager again, but not in a good way? As adults we have enough challenges like wrinkles, sun damage and lose skin; so it’s incredibly frustrating when acne comes back to haunt us. When adult acne hits, your immediate reaction might be to handle it the same way you did back in your teenage years. However, adult acne is unique and should be treated as such.
Because teenage acne is triggered by an overproduction of sebum and typically covers the entire face, treatments will usually consist of products which dramatically decrease the oil present in the skin. As we age, the structure of our skin changes; therefore those same products and treatments used on teenage skin will not only be ineffective, but can worsen the skin’s condition.
Three things to consider
- The amount of oil produced in our skin dramatically decreases with age. Even if you still consider your skin as oily, it is much drier than when you were in your teens; because of this it is important that as you treat the acne you are careful to not compromise the health and integrity of your skin.
- Acne in adults usually affects only the lower third region of the face to include around the mouth, chin and jawline which are naturally more sensitive areas.
- Ever notice how a child’s face reflects light and has a natural ‘glow’? This is largely due to cellular turnover. The cellular turnover of our skin slows down dramatically as we age. For example, a baby’s cellular turnover rate is about every 14 days; whereas a middle aged person is every 28 to 42 days and someone age 50+ is every 42 to 84 days! With proper exfoliation, you can avoid build-up of dead skin, which will improve overall skin health and help give you that luminous appearance.
At Mirabile M.D. MedCosmetic, we begin with a complimentary consultation. We fully analyze your skin in order to customize the most beneficial approach for you. No two skin types are the same so it is important for us to know about you, your lifestyle as well as your expectations. We also encourage you to bring a list of your current skin care products to your initial appointment so we can evaluate them to ensure progress with your current skin care goals. Below are some of the most common treatments used by our office for adult acne. Additionally, we offer quality skin care products and work with each patient to create a customized at-home skin care regimen.
Acne and hormones
One of the most common causes of adult acne comes from hormonal changes. Our on-site physician, Dr. James Mirabile, has been treating hormonal imbalance for over 20 years. Often times, we find that treating the underlying condition of hormonal imbalance is a good step toward correcting adult acne.
Adult Acne Treatment Options
HydraFacial MD
The HydraFacial MD provides cleansing, exfoliation, extractions and hydration while simultaneously infusing antioxidants, peptides and hyaluronic acid. The HydraFacial MD deeply cleanses the skin, evens skin tone and replenishes moisture levels depleted from acne treatments. This non-invasive treatment delivers instant results with no discomfort or downtime. The procedure is immediately effective.
VI Peel
The VI Peel purifies blemish prone skin, aids in healing acne through cell turnover and also lightens PIH (post inflammatory hyperpigmentation) from past acne lesions. There are varying levels of this chemical peel so patients can select the grade best for their particular needs. Results vary, but most patients peel for up to seven days post peel.
Venus Microlaser Peel
The Venus Microlaser Peel is an ablative laser, which means it removes several layers of skin inconsistencies. The Venus resurfaces the skin, dries out blemishes and decreases pseudo scarring from previous breakouts. When new epidermis regenerates, it results in a smoother, tighter surface. Most patients experience 2-3 days of downtime. Noticeable improvements can be seen in just a few days, with more improvement seen 1-3 months later.
Aura Acne Laser Treatment
The Aura Laser is a non-ablative laser treatment that helps heal current inflamed blemishes, as well as raise the skin’s ability to fight off the bacteria that causes acne. There is no downtime with this treatment.
The most crucial part of treating your acne is making sure you trust the skin care professional that is assisting you with this process because it takes a lot of patience, time and often a bit of trial and error is involved as well.
Christina Ammon, LE
