Acne is considered mainly a teenage problem. However, this is not necessarily the case. Almost anyone can develop acne after puberty, and it is not unusual for adults between the ages of 20 and 50 to develop acne on their face, shoulders or back. The causes for developing acne are the same if you are a teenager or an adult. That is why most acne treatments work for both teens and adults.
Acne develops when the natural oil in your skin, sebum, combines with dead skin cells and clogs a skin pore. The bacteria that is on your face mixes in and an infection develops. This infection may appear as a whitehead, if it has not broken through the skin. It is called a blackhead when the skin is broken and becomes contaminated with dirt. When the infection goes into the deeper layers of skin, it may form a painful pimple, cyst or nodule.
The tendency to develop acne is hereditary, so if your parents had acne, you probably will too. Surging hormones is another reason acne develops. This may happen during adolescence, pregnancy or the time a woman takes birth control pills.
It is very important not to pick or poke pimples. This is easier said than done because it seems like we can make them go away if we rub enough. However, this is just the opposite of the truth because when pimples are squeezed, the infection is forced deeper into the layers of skin, making the pimple worse and often times causing a scar.
There are several acne treatments available at our office, and during a consultation with our specialist, your acne may be examined and the right treatment prescribed. Each treatment is designed to combat a particular issue, such as reduce bacteria on your skin and keep the pores from becoming clogged. Other types of treatment can even stop the infections from developing.
Whether you are a teenager or an adult, you can get treatment for acne that may reduce the appearance of lesions as well as prevent them from forming in the future. Make an appointment at MacMed Spa in Milford, Framingham or Hopedale to learn about our acne treatments. Contact us today to schedule a consultation with our specialist!