Adult Acne

Many women are very upset when they first get acne pimples at age 30 or 40. Most adults who develop acne at an older age, rather than just continue to have the acne that they first experienced as teenagers, have a type of acne called acne rosacea, or "rosacea", as it is commonly known.

Acne rosacea causes redness, pimples, and telangiectasias, which look like broken blood vessels. Women with acne rosacea do not have the whiteheads and blackheads seen with common acne. Women with acne rosacea may experience flushing of their face, especially when they are hot, drink alcohol or hot drinks, or eat spicy foods. This flushing causes the face to appear red. Sometimes this redness becomes permanent.

Acne rosacea can usually be treated with antibiotic lotions or gels. The formulas used for these are often different than those used by young women with acne, because the skin of women with acne rosacea tends to be dry, not oily. Sometimes, antibiotic pills need to be taken. All these treatments require a prescription, so consult your health care provider if you think you have acne rosacea.