September is Acne Awareness Month. While we’ve covered acne before, we want to focus on acne in older women. Contrary to popular belief, acne isn’t just a phase from puberty. It can also extend (or reappear) as you age.
The main causes of acne include the following:
- An excess of sebum, which is an oil produced by the skin
- An overabundance of dead skin cells blocking the pores
- Increase of acne-causing bacteria in the blocked pores
- Skin inflammation
Typically, adult acne is more common in women than men. Hormonal changes during menopause are one of the driving forces behind why acne is prevalent among older women. One study showed that 15% of women aged 50 or older had acne. Several other factors can cause or worsen acne in older women, including family history, stress, cosmetics, smoking, and diet.
Properly caring for adult acne is the best way to prevent it or keep it from worsening. For instance, washing your skin twice a day with a non-drying, non-comedogenic cleanser that won’t clog your pores. Or avoiding heavy skin creams that could block your pores.
If you want additional help to get rid of adult acne, consider seeing a dermatologist. They can help you find an acne treatment that works for you.
By Diane Alavie, BSc. Phm.
