Women’s Mid-Life Health Centre of Saskatchewan

Women’s Mid-Life
Health Centre of Saskatchewan
Health Issues
Saskatoon City Hospital
701 Queen Street
Saskatoon, SK S7K 0M7
P 306-655-7681 F 306-655-8915
[email protected]
www.menopausecentre.org
Adult Acne
“Don’t tell me I have to live with wrinkles and acne…”
Unfortunately, acne can begin in adulthood too, and three quarters of adult acne occurs in women. Hormone fluctuations are usually
responsible, which is why women may suffer “cyclical acne” that shows up before their menstrual periods, or acne flare-ups during
pregnancy or menopause.
Of course there are emotional issues that can go along with adult acne. Some say “why should I have acne and wrinkles at the same
time”? This can be very troublesome for women and common for those who have had hormonal acne at other times in their life.
However, there are treatments that are available for both acne and wrinkles (see other page), so consult your healthcare professional.
Reference: Canadian Dermatology Association. (2013). Skin, Hair & Nails, Acne.
Retrieved from http://www.dermatology.ca/skin-hair-nails/skin/acne/#!/skin-hair-nails/skin/acne/adult-acne/
Treatments
Talk to your doctor about prescription treatments. Your doctor may recommend one treatment, or suggest combining a cream with an
oral medication. You have several options:
•Prescription creams containing retinoids (derived from vitamin A) to help unplug follicles.
•Gel containing 5% dapsone, which is thought to help fight inflammation involved in acne.
•Combination creams that combine the cleansing agent benzoyl peroxide and antibiotics such as clindamycin.
•Birth control pills, such as Yaz, which can regulate the hormonal fluctuations that initiate breakouts.
•Oral antibiotics, which act as anti-inflammatories.
Using a type of retinoid like Retin-A, (related chemically to vitamin A) on the skin will help to keep the pores clear and the skin
exfoliated, and will also help with wrinkles.
Reference: WebMD. (2010). Acne Health Center, Adult Acne Is Treatable.
Retrieved from: http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/acne/features/adult-acne-is-treatable
Ways to Reduce Acne Scarring:
Prevention is the best treatment for acne scars, which includes treating acne early and managing it to prevent new lesions from forming. There are several ways to treat scars if you do develop them:
•Tretinoin creams and gels can be used as a way to treat superficial scarring. They help with new collagen production, which assists the skin to build new, unscarred tissue.
•Chemical or alphahydroxy acid (AHA) peels or creams help to even out skin tone by smoothing out slight imperfections.
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Women’s Mid-Life
Health Centre of Saskatchewan
Health Issues
Saskatoon City Hospital
701 Queen Street
Saskatoon, SK S7K 0M7
P 306-655-7681 F 306-655-8915
[email protected]
www.menopausecentre.org
• Microdermabrasion is recommended for superficial mild acne scars. It is a short treatment that removes the uppermost layers of damaged skin. (See Skin Procedures)
• Injectable fillers include materials such as collagen and hyaluronic acid, which are injected below the skin’s surface to plump up pitted areas from rolling scars. (See Skin Procedures)
• Laser skin resurfacing improves the damaged uppermost surface layer, which helps to smooth out the appearance of deeper scars. It also encourages new collagen formation in the skin. (See cosmetic treatment section)
Reference: Canadian Dermatology Association. (2013). Acne, Acne Scarring.
Retrieved from http://www.dermatology.ca/skin-hair-nails/skin/acne/#!/skin-hair-nails/skin/acne/acne-scarring/
By: Lauren Dawes
Nursing Education Program of Saskatchewan Student
February, 2013
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