Q&A: Acne at Thirty

Facing Up to Acne

Question: At 30, I still get acne outbreaks. I wear foundation, face powder and lipstick, and clean my face twice a day with makeup removing facial wipes, followed by a facial wash for sensitive skin. Should I step up my cleansing routine or stop wearing makeup totally?

Answer: Many women find themselves fighting a long, frustrating battle with acne. Acne is a common condition that affects the oil glands and hair follicles (pilosebaceous unit) over the face, and sometimes the chest and back. Although it usually affects us during our teenage years, acne can often persist into or have an onset in adulthood. Termed post-adolescent acne, this disorder occurs in individuals aged 25 years or older, and is more frequent in women than men.

Acne is primarily caused by the following factors: oily skin, abnormal turnover of skin cells leading to clogging of pores, infection with P. acnes bacteria and inflammation. In women, hormonal imbalances and menstrual irregularities can also exacerbate acne.

Related: Acne

If you have acne-prone skin, makeup can be a wonderful tool to even out your complexion and to camouflage any blemishes. However, the makeup that you choose can sometimes aggravate your acne, as some makeup products, including foundation, concealer, blush and eye makeup, contain pore-clogging (comedogenic) ingredients, such as oils and other chemical substances.

Choose products that are labelled non-comedogenic and oil-free, and formulated specially for oily or acne-prone skin. These tend to have a lighter consistency, and are able to control excessive oiliness and shine. A powder-type foundation may also be more suited to your skin type than a liquid.

Whatever type of makeup you choose, cleanse your face thoroughly at the end of the day. Makeup wipes may be convenient, but may not be as effective in taking off your makeup as a conventional makeup removing product, such as balm, milk, oil or micellar water (a formula comprised of cleansing oil molecules called micelles), and then wiping off with a clean washcloth or cotton pad. After your makeup is removed, cleanse skin thoroughly with a pH-balanced cleanser, and follow up with a light, oil-free moisturiser.

Related: Skin Disorders Caused by Cosmetics

Post-adolescent acne can be treated in a few ways, depending on the severity of the condition. For starters, avoid picking or squeezing your pimples as this can worsen the inflammation and lead to eventual scarring. Avoiding sweet sugary (high glycaemic index) snacks, and managing stress levels will also benefit your skin condition.

Some medications effective for the treatment of acne vulgaris (blockage and inflammation of oil glands and hair follicles) may be purchased over the counter. These products tend to contain salicylic acid, or benzoyl peroxide at varying percentages. Salicylic acid is a beta-hydroxy acid that helps prevents clogged pores, by promoting the shedding of surface skin cells, while benzoyl peroxide helps to kill the acne causing bacteria, P. acnes.

If your acne persists or does not respond to such treatment, you should consult a doctor or a dermatologist. Prescription medications such as topical antibiotics (e.g. Clindamycin), or retinoid creams (e.g. tretinoin or adapalene) may be required for mild to moderate acne. In more severe instances, you may require oral medications such as oral antibiotics.

Read these next:

• How to Have Good Skin
• Beauty from the Inside
• All You Need to Know About Cosmetic Products