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Adult Acne: How To Treat And Conceal It (PHOTOS)

Adult Acne: How To Treat And Conceal It (PHOTOS)
Karen Kwan
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You may have thought waking up with a pimple was something of your past life, left back with your high school angst and teen heartthrob posters, but acne afflicts way more adults than most of us realize. "I think it's safe to say that, at some point in their adult lives, all women will experience acne to some degree. For men, the number maybe closer to 20 per cent," says Jaggi Rao, director of the dermatology residency program at the University of Alberta.

Afflicted with the condition? Here's all you need to know about treating and concealing it.

Adult Acne: How To Treat And Conceal It (PHOTOS)-from-mt-212602
Why Adult Acne Occurs And How Is It Different(01 of04)
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Although all acne is due to factors including excess oil production, clogged pores, increased bacteria and inflammation, with adult acne, two other factors come into play: hormonal fluctuations and the use of makeup and other products, says Rao.While acne in your teens can range from blackheads to cysts and can occur anywhere on the face or body, adult acne typically presents itself differently. Usually, you can expect deep-seated nodules and cysts predominantly on the lower half of the face (think chin, jawline and lower cheeks, underneath the jawline and neck). This is due to the fact that these areas may be high in hormone receptors and prone to hormonal influences, explains Rao. (credit:Shutterstock)
How To Treat Adult Acne(02 of04)
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Your dermatologist will be able to determine the best treatment option for you after taking your history and conducting a thorough exam. Amongst the more effective topical treatments? Rao says using a prescription product that contains a combination of topical agents is faster, provides better results with fewer side effects than using a product featuring only one agent. Try:-- A product containing benzoyl peroxide coupled with antiobiotic clinmycin, such as Clindoxyl or Benzaclin-- Tactuo, which features benzoyl peroxide combined with the retinoid adapalene-- Biacna, which combines clindamycin with tretinoin (credit:Shutterstock)
Treating The Problem Inside Out(03 of04)
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Looking for something to treat the problem from inside out? Rao says treatments taken orally may provide mixed results. While antibiotics from the tetracycline family (such as tetracycline, doxycycline and minocycline) can help your adult acne quickly, he says that the improvements are short-lived due to the fact that the hormonal causes are not addressed. If you are willing to consider taking a birth control pill to help your acne, effective ones for helping your skin problems include Diane-35, Ortho Tri-Cyclen, Yasmin and Alesse. Not keen on taking the Pill for your acne? Taking Aldactone, a non-birth control oral treatment that may provide some relief in terms of hormonal acne causes, may be a consideration to discuss with your doctor. (credit:Shutterstock)
How To Conceal Your Acne(04 of04)
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There's no need to hide out at home until your breakout subsides -- concealing your acne just calls for using the right product. "Look for a high-coverage concealer that isn't too creamy so that it stays in place," says Beau Nelson, a makeup artist represented by Page One Management in Toronto.In terms of how to pick a shade, he recommends using the same colour as your foundation ("Anything lighter will draw attention to the spot."). To apply, he suggests using a small concealer brush and feathering the edges of the product to blend into your foundation; set with a dusting of translucent powder and reapply if you need to build more coverage. (credit:Shutterstock)

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