| | education manager for the International Dermal Institute. applies a clay cleanser while a steamer opens her client's follicles. (Aaron Harris CP)
TORONTO -- One of the best things about bidding farewell to the teen years is being rid of pimples. But some adults are waking up in their 20s. 40s and even 50s to an unpleasant reminder of high-school embarrassment.
"If you look at the role of the average woman today. juggling so many more balls ... definitely adrenal stress levels are up and adrenal stress is linked to this adult acne phenomenon." she said.
Adult acne definitely looks different from teenaged zits. which are usually present in the T-zone -- across the forehead. down the nose to the chin. The grown-up version shows up on cheeks. chin and along the jawline.
McCliskie explains that if breakouts are occurring along the jawline. temples and eyebrows. it signals adrenal overload. The adrenal gland secretes adrenalin as well as steroid hormones including testosterone.
There has been an explosion of products aimed at adult acne. Now cosmetic companies are tapping into the demographic that wants to fight wrinkles and acne at the same time. offering products that come in pretty packages with high pricetags.
Publishers. are having a field day. After the huge success of his book The Wrinkle Cure. Dr. Nicholas Perricone produced The Acne Prescription: The Perricone Program for Clear and Healthy Skin at Every Age (HarperCollins). He writes about yoga. diet and products that will help fight acne (yes. he sells a line of products).
But not every author is hawking a skin-care line. The Acne Cure (Rodale Inc.) by Dr. Terry J. Dubrow and Brenda D. Adderly. outlines a treatment regimen advocating certain ingredients based on skin type.
In her book The Skin Type Solution (Bantam). she explains there are 16 skin types based on oiliness versus dryness. resistant versus sensitive. pigmented versus non-pigmented and tight versus wrinkled.
"With all these anti-aging creams -- people are not buying the right ones. Even though it's anti-aging. it's not right for their skin type." she said.
Kellett agrees the lotions women use to deal with wrinkles may well be the source of their acne. She recommends a gentle. gel-based cleanser that exfoliates. twice a day followed by a benzoyl peroxide lotion and a water-based. oil-free moisturizer.
For adults who want quick treatment. she recommends a levulan and light treatment. Levulan is a photosensitizer drug that is applied to the skin and activated with different types of light.
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| | Posted 7/1/2006 8:38 PM - 149 Views
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