Canadian Living – September 2019

CANADIAN LIVING SEPTEMBER 2019 | 55

Spot Check

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agers as a normal part of growing up,” says Dr. Beecker.
“Now we know that it really is a skin disease, and not only
can it continue past the teen years, but some women can
develop it later in life.” Hormone seem to be at the heart
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Since the pill has long been prescribed as a treatment for
acne as well as a contraceptive—and many women stay on
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That’s because, for all those years, the pill was control
ling hormone levels, which was helping to prevent the
development of pimples. “The male hormones in the body—
the androgens—contribute to making sebum, which is the
oil that can clog the hair follicle leading to the formation
of acne,” says Dr. Beecker.
Likewise, the onset of early menopause causes hormones
to shift. “If a woman is in her early 40s and is starting to
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menopause stage that’s contributing, and women may get
an aggivation of their acne at menopause,” says Dr. Beecker.
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(across the forehead and nose), where it’s usually seen in
teens and young adults,” says Lindsay Barras, education
manager at skincare brand Dermalogica. Women with
acne in their 40s and 50s often see the bulk of their break
outs along the jawline. It’s an area of the face where men
grow beards, and testosterone in that spot is naturally
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women don’t have that thick hair in the pore to wick away
the oil. That's why adult acne in females usually occurs
around the jawline,” says Barras.
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cell turnover. People who are prone to breakouts naturally
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clogging pores and creating the perfect condition for pim
ples to form. “As we age, our cell cycle slows down,” says
Barras, “and on top of that, we lose our natural ability to
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you’ve got a recipe for an acne problem.

SPOT

TREATMENT

Must-try products for

aging acne-prone skin.

Z JUICE BEAUTY

SPF 30 Oil-Free

Moisturizer, $39,

sephora.ca.

Y DERMALOGICA

AGE Bright Clear-

ing Serum, $89,

dermalogica.ca.

See Spot Run

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seem like an impossible task (and possibly a great cosmic joke).

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signs of aging, too. “Women are more encouraged to treat adult

acne when the secondary H̆HFWRIDGGUHVVLQJVRPHRIWKHLUDQWL

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DUHDJRWRbecause they improve collagen production, plumping

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improve skin cell turnover, which is good for the elimination of

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washing—once a day might be enough) with a gentle cleanser. And

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acne is important because it maintains the skin barrier and helps

the medicated products work better,” she VD\V$IWHUPRLVWXUL]LQJ

the third step is to apply a medicated gel or cream on top to treat

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products or ones prescribed by your dermatologist, consistency

is key, since many acne products require three months of use to

really start working. “Continually using treatment is really

important,” says Dr. Beecker.

On the Spot

“If you’ve ever been in a business meeting with a big pimple on your

face, you know that acne can cause major insecurity. Maybe espe

cially for mature women when it's a skin issue they haven't dealt

with before,” says Barras. “There’s actually a direct link between

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“Older women who have breakouts are often embarassed, feel

ing that they look juvenile and that it undermines their credibil

ity,” says Dr. Beecker. “Studies have shown that acne has a big

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cant, like diabetes or chronic asthma.”

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and, with the right treatment approach, it won’t last forever,” says

Barras. As it turns out, acne can be just another part of the aging

process. Like smile lines, pimples aren’t totally preventable, but

we can help to avoid them by taking good care of our maturing skin.

Z ALUMIER Acne

Clarifying Cleanser,

$53, alumiermd.ca.