Should you see a dermatologist for your adult acne?

Adult Acne: When should you visit a dermatologist?

huibing

27 Jun 2017

Adult acne affects 1 in every 2 women. Should you see a professional about it?

When your current medication stops working or has never worked

1/5
When your current medication stops working or has never worked
If regularly washing your face and the application of over-the-counter cream has stopped working for you, consider visiting a dermatologist. They might be able to prescribe stronger treatment or more effective oral medication. They may diagnose you with severe acne, which can be pretty stubborn, outliving its milder counterparts significantly, and can even resist the ingredients present in OTC remedies that are better suited for superficial acne.
2/5
When you used to have clear skin
Some people were blessed to never have acne during their growing years, but if you were one of them, and acne has begun popping up later in your life, go to the dermatologist to get your skin and hormone levels examined. Late-onset acne could be the result of a sudden hormonal imbalance, which you should definitely check with a dermatologist to ensure that everything is alright. And, adult acne could even be a sign that something else is wrong with your body, so don’t hesitate to head down to the doctor's, be it a gynaecologist or a dermatologist.
3/5
When there’s a lot of acne
Sometimes it can be hard to tell if there’s a lot of acne or if it’s just the sudden appearance that makes it startling. Though a sum can be inconclusive, having over 20 acne spots over your face could be a sign of much more than just regular adult acne. Additionally, if they are deep cystic acne that are sensitive to touch, a trip to the dermatologist could definitely help as well as they may provide an antibiotic that would work better.
4/5
When you are on medication
If you are on certain types of medication right now — think, birth control pills or sleeping pills -- it’s best to consult your dermatologist before embarking on any sort of treatment for your skin. This is because medication can interfere with each other, making it a dangerous combination.
5/5
When you feel your confidence slipping
For people without acne, it is easy to dismiss the bumps as having merely a superficial impact on your life. But, for those who suffer from it, it is understood how these seemingly insignificant breakouts can have a long-lasting impact on your mental health and self-esteem (and especially so if you’ve never had it before). If you find your adult acne disrupting your self-confidence, no matter how mild or how severe they may be, drop by a dermatologist to get help!

You were told that your skin would clear once you reach your twenties. After all, the textbooks say acne is the result of your puberty years (because your skin clearly needed the additional distress), on top of hormonal imbalances and the weird growth spurt that hit you overnight. Since then, you’ve been alternating between concealer and spot treatments, convinced it’ll all go away soon. As the days keep going, turning from weeks to months, you begin to realise something: your acne is not going away.

Adult acne affects over 50% of women and 25% of men. This means that nearly every other woman in the world (and one in four men) have found themselves with the appearance of acne well past their teenage years. Just because it is common does not mean it should be ignored, though. You might actually need to visit a dermatologist to see if there are any underlying causes. Here are five things you should take into consideration.

Lee Hui Bing

Zit Free: 10 Effective acne-fighting products for clearer skin in 2017

In Your Kitchen: 10 Natural ways to get rid of acne scars

Breakout Advice: 8 Surprising everyday habits causing your acne

Homeland Jewels: 10 Singaporean authors you...