What Causes Adult Acne?Adult acne is caused by sebum, an oily substance produced by the skin’s sebaceous glands. Sebum clogs pores, which attract bacteria and become inflamed. For most adults, breakouts are a result of hypersensitivity to androgens (male hormones). But an imbalance in both male and female hormones (estrogen) can also cause breakouts. For women, this can happen during pregnancy, perimenopause, and menopause. Some medications, such as corticosteroids, and cosmetics are also triggers.
How Is Adult Acne Treated?Treating adult acne is tricky. Most acne medications are geared to teens' oily skin, a bad choice for drier adult skin. Effective treatment often requires a trial-and-error approach that takes time, Keri says. Her recommendations include:
Cleansers:
Cetaphil and Aquanil are the most gentle. Avoid too-strong gels and products containing beads or granules, which are abrasive and can irritate and worsen sensitive skin.
Creams and lotions:
Use an over-the-counter retinol product to clean pores and help reduce fine wrinkles. Prevent discoloration and fade acne scars with products that contain salicylic and glycolic acids. And to spot-treat a breakout, use a product with benzoyl peroxide, which helps kill bacteria.
Prescription medications:
The topical antibiotic clindamycin helps fight bacteria in the skin; so does tetracycline, another antibiotic, taken orally. Oral contraceptives and spironolactone, a blood pressure drug, can help balance hormones.
High-tech solutions:
Laser and intense pulsed light treatments mainly target scars, but blue light therapy treatments kill acne-causing bacteria. These treatments are costly, though, so explore your other options first.
A Skin-Care Regimen for the Acne ProneBelieve it or not, there’s a trick to skillful face washing. To start, try to keep your face clean during the day. Then wash your face twice daily with the cleanser (if your skin is dry, try using water the second time). Use only warm water (hot water is drying). Wash for just 1-2 minutes (more can irritate your skin). And use your hands instead of a rough washcloth. (If you must wash with a cloth, choose one made for babies, so it’s as soft as possible.)
Adult acne can really put a crimp on your life. Nearly everyone has a skin condition when growing up but most acne medications in our markets are designed for teenagers. It is therefore imperative to know which regimen fits you best amongst the aformentioned.

This is from a mail i recieved:
Recently, this past week, my cousin Nicole Dishuk (age 31... a newly graduated student with a doctoral degree about to start her new career as a Doctor...) was flown into a nearby hospital, because she passed out. They found a blood clot in her neck, and immediately took her by helicopter to the ER to operate. By the time they removed the right half of her skull to relieve the pressure on her brain, the clot had spread to her brain causing severe damage. Since last Wednesday night, she was fighting for her life. They induced her into a coma to stop the blood flow and then operated 3 times.
Finally, they said there was nothing left that they could do. Multiple clots in the left side of her brain were found, the swelling wouldn't stop and she was on the life support. She died at 4:30 that day.
The CAUSE of DEATH they found was a birth control she was taking that allows you to only have your period 3 times a year. Doctors said it interrupts life's menstrual cycle, and although it is FDA approved... it shouldn't be. So to the women in my address book, I ask you to boycott this product and deal with your periods once a month, so you can live the rest of the months that life has in store for you.
FYI: The name of this new birth control is Lybrel. If you go to Lybrel.com you will find a least 26 pages of information regarding this drug. The second birth control is Seasonique. If you go to Seasonique.com you will find at least 43 pages of information regarding this drug. The warning and side effects regarding both pills are horrible.
I checked the site; the following is a list of the side-effects not all just a third:The most common side effects reported with LYBREL in a clinical trial were:
Headache, Menstrual cramps, Upper respiratory infection, Vaginal bleeding, Nausea and as with all oral contraceptives, women may experience weight gain or weight loss.
If any of the following side effects occur while you are taking an oral contraceptive like LYBREL, call your health care professional immediately:
Sharp chest pain, coughing of blood, or sudden shortness of breath (indicating a possible clot in the lung)
Pain in the calf (indicating a possible clot in the leg)
Crushing chest pain or heaviness in the chest (indicating a possible heart attack)
Sudden severe headache or vomiting, dizziness or fainting, disturbances of vision or speech, weakness, or numbness in an arm or leg (indicating a possible stroke)
Sudden partial or complete loss of vision (indicating a possible clot in the eye)
Breast lumps (indicating possible breast cancer or fibrocystic disease of the breast; ask your health care professional to show you how to examine your breasts)
Severe pain or tenderness in the stomach area (indicating a possibly ruptured liver tumor)
Difficulty in sleeping, weakness, lack of energy, fatigue, or change in mood (possibly indicating severe depression)
Jaundice or a yellowing of the skin or eyeballs, accompanied frequently by fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, dark-colored urine, or light-colored bowel movements (indicating possible liver problems)
Important Safety Information
The Pill does not protect against HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases.
Unscheduled bleeding or spotting is likely to occur while you are taking LYBREL. The convenience of having no regular menstrual periods should be weighed against the inconvenience of unscheduled or unplanned breakthrough bleeding and spotting.
Some women should not use the Pill, including women who have blood clots; breast, uterine, or liver cancers; a history of heart attack, stroke, or breast cancer; as well as those who are or may be pregnant.
Serious risks associated with the Pill which can be life threatening, include blood clots, stroke, and heart attacks and are increased if you smoke cigarettes. Cigarette smoking increases the risk of serious adverse effects on the heart and blood vessels from oral contraceptive use, especially if you are over 35. Women who use the Pill are strongly advised not to smoke.
LYBREL provides women with more hormonal exposure on a yearly basis (13 additional weeks of hormone intake per year) than conventional cyclic oral contraceptives containing the same strength of synthetic estrogens and similar strength of progestins.
Because regular monthly bleeding does not occur on LYBREL, it may be difficult to recognize if you get pregnant. If you suspect that you may be pregnant, or if you have symptoms of pregnancy such as nausea/vomiting or unusual breast tenderness, you should have a pregnancy test and you should contact your health care professional.
The most common side effects reported with LYBREL in a clinical trial were headache, menstrual cramps, upper respiratory infection, vaginal bleeding, and nausea.
Ladies, a little warning, in the quest to avoid being pregnant please dont put yourself in mortal danger!It doesn't make any rational sense to not have your period, it comes every month or so for a reason, something has to give. If you want my advice, stick to regular contraceptive methods!

We have reached the stage where unplanned pregnancies really should be rare, because there are so many good methods of birth control.
It is important to note that some contraceptive methods are more effective in preventing pregnancy than others, while only condoms offer protection against sexually transmitted infections.
There are several contraceptives you can use to prevent pregnancy thanks to modern science: The oral contraceptive Pill (THE PILL), Contraceptive patch, intraceptive injection, Vaginal ring, Intra-uterine system (IUS), Intra- uterine device (IUD), morning afetr pills (emergency contraceptives), male condoms and the female condoms.
There are the old-school methods as well: Contraceptive sponge, Diaphragm, Cervical cap, Lea contraceptive, Spermicides and other coitus interruptus (Withdrawal).
There are the permanent methods of vasectomy (permanent surgery to block sperm from getting to that little hole on the cap) and Tubal litigation (permanent surgery to disconnect the fallopian tubes so that eggs dont move from the ovaries to the uterus).
Aside the permanent methods, the Pill, the contraceptive injection, IUS, IUD, the male and female condoms and suprisingly the combo of the diaphragm and spermicide are the only methods that assure between 90%-99% effectiveness. The only methods that offer 100% assurance are the permanent ones and ABSTINENCE.
The patch and injection contraceptive methods are relatively new and are widely used in the UK, US and in Canada. They are not available in Nigeria yet.
The contraceptive patch is a new method of birth control; it is a 4 cm x 4 cm beige patch that sticks to a woman's skin and continuously releases the hormones estrogen and a progestin into the bloodstream. The patch works very similarly to the Pill. They both use hormones to prevent pregnancy, and the only main difference is that you swallow the Pill and the Patch provides the hormones through your skin. The Patch prevents pregnancy by stopping the ovaries from releasing an egg, and it may also thicken the cervical mucus (making it harder for sperm to get into the uterus) and make the uterine lining thin. Each patch is worn on the skin for seven days. One patch is worn each week for 3 weeks. The Patch should be changed on the same day each week (called the "Patch Change Day"). The fourth week is patch-free, and during this time you should get your period. The patch should never be off for more than seven days in a row. Following the seven patch-free days, a new cycle is started when you apply a new patch on your Patch Change Day.The patch can be worn on the buttocks, stomach, back or upper arms, but not on the breasts.
The Contraceptive injection is a hormonal birth control method that contains a progestin. It does not contain estrogen. It is administered by a needle in the muscle of the arm or buttocks every 12-13 weeks. It is 99.7% effective in preventing pregnancy, but it can also weaken a woman's bones. As a teenager, your bones are still hardening, so this is of particular concern for you. For this reason, it is generally only recommended for girls who cannot use other contraceptive methods. The injection should be used with condoms to prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs). It stops your ovaries from releasing an egg every month (ovulation). It also thins the lining of the uterus.
No matter what type of contraceptive you decide on, it is important to make sure it is best for you. You should fully understand the methods of usage as well as their side-effects before usage. Some of them offer crampier periods, heavier periods, lighter periods, no periods at all, bone density loss and so on.
NOTE: Visit your OB-GYN before using any contraceptive. There are so many different types of contraception available that you should be able to find the right method. You may have to try several different things before you choose the one you like most. It is important to have medical guidance because most contraceptives are like prescription pills.

It may seem that there’s nothing you can do about your stress level. The bills aren’t going to stop coming, there will never be more hours in the day for all your errands, and your career or family responsibilities will always be demanding. This season can not possiblybe helping especially if you are in this heatwave. But you have a lot more control than you might think. In fact, the simple realization that you’re in control of your life is the foundation of stress management. Managing stress is all about taking charge: taking charge of your thoughts, your emotions, your schedule, your environment, and the way you deal with problems. The ultimate goal is a balanced life, with time for work, relationships, relaxation, and fun – plus the resilience to hold up under pressure and meet challenges head on. These coping strategies may temporarily reduce stress, but they cause more damage in the long run:
Smoking
Drinking too much
Overeating or undereating
Zoning out for hours in front of the TV or computer
Withdrawing from friends, family, and activities
Using pills or drugs to relax
Sleeping too much
Procrastinating
Filling up every minute of the day to avoid facing problems
Taking out your stress on others (lashing out, angry outbursts, physical violence).
The following are suggestions to get you started on managing the stress in your life:
1.Recognize your symptoms of stress
2.Look at your lifestyle and see what can be changed -- in your work situation, your family situation, or your schedule
3.Use relaxation techniques - yoga, meditation, deep breathing, or massage
4.Exercise - Physical activity is one of the most effective stress remedies around!
5.Time management - Do essential tasks and prioritize the others. Consider those who may be affected by your decisions, such as family and friends. Use a check list so you will receive satisfaction as you check off each job as it is done
6.Watch your diet - Alcohol, caffeine, sugar, fats and tobacco all put a strain on your body's ability to cope with stress. A diet with a balance of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and foods high in protein but low in fat will help create optimum health.
7.Get enough rest and sleep
8.Talk with others - Talk with friends, professional counsellors, support groups or relatives about what is bothering you
9.Help others - Volunteer work can be an effective and satisfying stress reducer
10.Get away for awhile - Read a book, watch a movie, play a game, listen to music or go on vacation. Leave yourself some time that's just for you
11.Work off your anger - Get physically active, dig in the garden, start a project, get your spring cleaning done
12.Give in occasionally - Avoid quarrels whenever possible
13.Tackle one thing at a time - Don't try to do too much at once.
14.Don't try to be perfect
15.Ease up on criticism of others
16.Don't be too competitive
17.Make the first move to be friendly
18.Have some fun!! Laugh and be with people you enjoy!