Pimples. Why??

Question

My wife is 34 (I know its not good to say her age!!) and she always gets pimples. She eats healthy, not greasy food, and she cleans her face daily. Why else would make her get so many pimples??

Answer 1

What causes acne?

No one factor causes acne. Acne happens when oil (sebaceous) glands come to life around puberty stimulated by male hormones from the adrenal glands of both boys and girls. Oil is a natural substance which lubricates and protects the skin, and under certain circumstances, cells that are close to the surface block the openings of sebaceous glands and cause a buildup of oil underneath. This oil stimulates bacteria, (which live in everyone's skin and generally cause no problems), to multiply and cause surrounding tissues to become inflamed.

If the inflammation is right near the surface, you get a pustule; if it's deeper, a papule (pimple); deeper still and it's a cyst. If the oil breaks though to the surface, the result is a "whitehead." If the oil becomes oxidized (that is, acted on by oxygen in the air), the oil changes from white to black, and the result is a "blackhead."

Some factors that don’t usually cause acne, at least by themselves are:

Heredity: With the exception of very severe acne, most people do not have the problem exactly as their parents did. Almost everyone has some acne at some point in their life.
Food: All over the world, parents tell teens to avoid pizza, chocolate, greasy and fried foods, and junk food. While these foods may not be good for overall health, they don't cause acne or make it worse.
Dirt: Some individuals have more "oily" skin than others (as mentioned above, "Blackheads" are oxidized oil, not dirt). Sweat does not cause acne, therefore, it is not necessary to shower instantly after exercise for fear that sweat will clog pores. On the other hand, excessive washing can dry and irritate the skin.
Stress: Some people get so upset by their pimples that they pick at them and make them last longer. Stress, however, does not play much of a direct role in causing acne.
Hormones: Some women break out cyclically, but most women (and men) don't. Some oral contraceptive pills may help relieve acne, but unless a woman has abnormal menstrual periods and excessive hair growth, it’s unlikely that hormones play much of a role in causing acne.
Cosmetics: Most cosmetic and skin care products are not pore-clogging (“comedogenic.”) Of the many available brands, those which are listed as “water-based” or “oil-free” are generally a better choice.
In occasional patients, contributing factors may be:

Pressure: In some patients, pressure from helmets, chinstraps, collars, and the like can aggravate acne.
Drugs: Some medications may cause or worsen acne, such as those containing iodides, bromides, or oral or injected steroids (either the medically prescribed prednisone or the steroids bodybuilders or athletes take.) Most cases of acne, however, are not drug-related.
Occupations: In some jobs, exposure to industrial products like cutting oils may produce acne.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Hormones. Body chemistry. Reaction to particular dietary intake.
These could all easily be factors.

In terms of solutions, i don't know what your situation is or what has already been tried. At that age, it might be a good idea to see a dermatologist to map out your options.

The following is a little excerpt from the national institutes of health's website which you might find helpful:
In some women, acne is caused by an excess of androgen (male) hormones. Clues that this may be the case include hirsutism (excessive growth of hair on the face or body), premenstrual acne flares, irregular menstrual cycles, and elevated blood levels of certain androgens.

The doctor may prescribe one of several drugs to treat women with this type of acne:
* Birth control pills – to help suppress the androgen produced by the ovaries
* Low-dose corticosteroid drugs, such as prednisone (Deltasone) or dexamethasone (Decadron, Hexadrol) – to help suppress the androgen produced by the adrenal glands
* Antiandrogen drugs such as spironolactone (Aldactone) – to reduce the excessive oil production.

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In the meantime, i'd suggest using a combination of non-comedogenic facial wash and benzoyl peroxide topical cream 2-3 times daily. Good luck.

Answer 4

I clean my face 2 times a day (sometimes 3). Eating healthy and all is fine and good, but The key is to drink LOTS OF WATER. Water is a sign of clarity. Hopefully it helps. I have sensitive skin and I know how hard it is to get rid of stubborn pimples. I tried to use the sensitive skin Oil of Olay and that didn't work. It still made me red in the face and break out. I use St. Ives Apricot Scrub and my face is as clear as day. =D Hope I helped!

Answer 5

she's cheating on food, what about soda's, sometimes washing 3 or 4 times a day helps. Oily or moisture body soap is not good on the face. Try just plain Ivory 3 or 4 times a day.

Answer 6

Pimples after puberty are highly associated with testosterone levels. Usually when a woman has acne her testosterone levels are elevated. I would suggest your wife to go get some hormonal tests done to see how her hormones are.