Acne Prone Skin - What is Acne ?

Acne is one of the biggest challenges to women of color who seek clear, glowing complexions. Though acne pimples are often associated with teenage skin, many adult women complain about unattractive whiteheads, blackheads, pimples, and large acne \cysts. Some women of color have acne most of their lives while others develop it for the first time in their twenties or thirties.

It's quite common for acne to develop during adulthood. Most of my acne patients are adult women in their twenties, thirties, and forties. Usually by age fifty five, acne subsides. At any age, acne takes patience and care to treat. Severe, persistent acne is more than just a cosmetic problem: not only can it lead to scarring, but it can negatively impact self-esteem and our well-being.

As a woman of color with acne, you may also face a double whammy if hyper pigmentation- skin darkening in spots or patches-occurs in response to an acne outbreak. Because of its reactive nature, the melanin in our skin may respond to acne by producing excess pigment. When that occurs, dark marks develop. The combination of dark spots and acne pimples or cysts can be very unsightly, compounding the psychological impact of the condition. Often dark marks remain even after the acne flare-up is treated, and those marks may take months, if not years, to fade.

Whether you have mild or severe acne, you'll be pleased to learn there are multiple effective treatments for the condition. With several topical and oral products to choose from, you can successfully treat an acne outbreak. But you'll also need to learn how to cleanse and care for your acne-prone skin and prevent flare ups from occurring in the first place. Preventing acne, and treating it and any dark marks that occur promptly, are key steps to keeping your skin of color smooth and blemish-free.

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