Beauty -AdultAcne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spotting the causes
Adult Angst
Victoria Beckham, Cameron Diaz and Katy Perry – what do these A-List women all have in common? Aside from being super-rich, talented and global media darlings, they have all reportedly been blighted by the condition of Adult Acne.
While many of us generally associate the common skin condition with awkward teenage growing pains, it is surprising upon research to discover just how many adults, and in particular women, succumb to the complaint and also how this number appears to be on the rise: “Acne can affect men and women of any age, however women tend to suffer more commonly and up to 80% of suffers are female,” says Caroline Quinlan, Beauty Industry expert and skin therapist.
In a heightened image conscious age where every inch of our appearance is subjected to scrutiny, any adult suffering with Acne will know how it can prove to be both an embarrassing and highly inconvenient problem. As well as outbreaks on the facial area, the condition can also occur on other parts of the body such as the chest, shoulders and back. The huge emotional impact this can have on an individual’s self- confidence can often lead to severe repercussions across all aspects of their daily working and personal lives. This is not helped either by the confusing minefield of explanations and advice to treat Acne which is readily available at the click of button, which too can prove exasperating for those seeking reassurance.
Even with the plethora of technological advances in recent times there still appears to be no quick fix for curing Acne. As a beauty professional, adult sufferers will be turning to you for advice and recommendations in order to implement the best course of action and results, both within the salon and at home.
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So what exactly are the triggers of the condition and why are so many grown- ups affected? “Adult Acne has been a phenomenon on the rise for several years,” explains Candice Gardner, Dermalogica’s Education Curriculum Manager. “Whilst there are many theories as to the contributory factors, there are some fundamental physiological changes that occur as women get older that increases the risk of Acne development.
“Of significance is the increase in androgen sensitivity along the jawline. In men this area is notably a target for androgen hormones which promotes male pattern hair growth and in this instance the beard. Minor changes or fluctuations in oestrogens for women results in androgen dominance which causes increased oil production along the jawline and characteristic inflamed Acne lesions.”
With hormone fluctuations occurring throughout periods, pregnancy and menopause it’s no wonder that the fairer sex is more susceptible to the condition. Yet could the 21st century pressures of our hectic daily lives and jam-packed schedules also be playing a part in the problem? “The population is now experiencing more stress than ever before, this added stress over works the adrenal glands leading to a domino effect of hormonal imbalances in the body,” comments Anne McDevitt of Anne McDevitt Products.
Candice agrees: “Interestingly the clinical studies on the impacts of stress show this to be a major factor for consideration in Adult Acne. The stressed state causes release of high levels of neurotransmitters, including Substance P which was shown to stimulate the proliferation of sebocyte glands and to up-regulate lipid synthesis in sebaceous cells. Lastly, psychological
Alongside skin care regimes, clients may benefit from changes in their diet and introducing gentle forms of exercise.
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