Question:
Dear Leah~
I talked with my daughter last night and she's having a skin breakout problem. She got a prescription for Retin-A, but I told her that she
should be sure to wash with a gentle product and mentioned your Cleansing
Milk. Do you have any advice for acne on a thirty year old?
Thank you,
Eleanor
Answer:
Skincare Consultant Leah Vartanian of www.leahsnatural.com responds:
Hi Eleanor~
It is hard to believe, but 50% of women ages 25 to 58 have some kind of acne. Most commonly these are painful hard cysts near the mouth, temples and jaw line. I wish there was a magic bullet that would make adult acne disappear, but unfortunately there isn't. Let's look at some hidden causes that might give your daughter insight and empower her to make lifestyle changes that may help the flare-ups.
Stress is a huge acne trigger. When we are under stress our body releases cortisol which stimulates the production of hormones that triggers oil glands to produce more oil, which may lead to clogged pores and acne. These stress hormones can also cause pandemonium to our immune system, not to mention our stomach, hips and thighs!
If you think your daughter is stressed, you might encourage her to consider including stress management activities like yoga or meditation, even walking into her daily routine.
The idea that chocolate and French fries can cause acne has been proven to be a myth. But I know for myself, if I eat potato chips (my downfall) my face is oilier the next day. Ask your daughter to pay attention to what she eats and how it affects her skin. Lots of water, fruit and vegetables will help flush out her system and make her feel better all around. Tell her to stay away from sugar - it weakens the immune system, has no nutritional value and can cause blood sugar spikes, which make us, feel crummy and more stressed.
When we get a pimple we want to zap it, right? Often we get products that over cleanse and dry out our skin. When skin is stripped of its oil, it thinks it needs to produce more and we end up with a worse problem than before. So, you were right to suggest a gentle cleanser, be it my Cleansing Milk or an over the counter facial wash, but tell her not to scrub or exfoliate her skin, it will only aggravate the pimples.
As for other things to do, if she uses the phone a lot, wipe it down with alcohol before each use. Tell her not to pick or squeeze the little buggers (it could cause scarring), and never go to bed with makeup on.
The supplements zinc, selenium and acidophilus support bodily functions that may be beneficial in the treatment of acne. A dot of undiluted Tea Tree essential oil placed directly with a Q-tip on the pimple will dry it out, but don't use the undiluted oil on the rest of your face, it's way to drying. She can look for commercial treatments with the ingredients; green tea extract, azelaic acid, ester - C, vitamin E and fruit acids.
In the end, she can follow her doctors advice and use the Retin-A, which is an effective acne treatment. Adult acne is not fun and intregrating the natural and medical approach may be the most effective.
I hope this has helped.
Sincerely,
Leah
