So this is highly unfair. At 42, I have laughter lines when I laugh, and the lines are beginning to show even when I'm not laughing. Looking closely, you can see the lines there.
Normal, right? Yes, it is. And I'm privileged to be able to grow older and to have laughed enough to have causes these lines.
But my problem is that I also have adult acne and I was foolishly under the impression that you either had one or the older -- a line or two -- or acne.
This is the difference between the teen years and the 40s, right? I got jipped!
My acne is well-controlled with a prescription medication -- the only thing that has worked for me. I went off it for a few months and the acne returned, so it looks like I'm on it for a long time to come.
Not the best solution but the clear skin is worth it until it stops (it won't!) or I find a more natural route. Hasn't happened yet.
If you're the same way, try clindamycin for your skin. It may work as well for you as it does for me. Cleaning the face with benzoyl peroxide helps too and birth control pills can help reduce or even eliminate acne.
But there are some pretty good medication-free ways to help control acne. Simple solutions can be to cleanse, tone and moisturize every morning and night. This helps to unclog pores, get rid of bacteria and allow the skin to breathe.
Using a moisturizer with a retinoid like Retin-A helps to unclog the skin. Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid that is found in certain skin cleansers - and is a good acne treatment.
Using products that are specially created for acne can help, like salicylic acid, as they target the causes of acne which include hormonal, diet, environmental and stress factors, among others.
If you are getting acne before your period, make sure to spend a little extra time on your skin around those days. This kind of acne should be temporary -- about a week or less.
Eating a fresh and healthy diet with lots of water is great for acne prone skin. Eat foods with Vitamin A -- carrots, sweet potatoes, yams, cantaloupe, apricots (all the orange foods!) as well as leafy greens like spinach.
Meats high in Vitamin A include liver. Vitamin A is great for ridding the skin of acne (this is what Retin A is derived from).
Gentle skin care is important for older skin. Harsh products with harsh chemicals can be too much for adult skin to handle. Cleansing, toning and moisturizing using gentle but acne-ridding products is key.
If affordable, get a facial every couple of months and make sure your aesthetician knows about your acne so she can use the appropriate products. Avoiding stress where possible and getting a good night's sleep works wonders for the face.
Also remember to clean phones or anything that is put around your face and use new makeup and clean make- up applicators to lessen bacteria causing acne. And if you have an awful looking pimple right before a big day, a blob of toothpaste placed on it overnight can shrink it in no time!
Tell Us
What adult acne treatments have worked for you?