Yep, it’s a double whammy. You probably thought that acne would go away after your teen years, and you wouldn’t have to worry about eye wrinkles until you’re “old.” Then you became an adult and reality sunk in – You can have pimples and wrinkles at the same time! This realization has been known to spur a “Why God?” moment in many adults.
If you suffer from adult acne, you’re not alone. Millions of people have aging, acne-prone skin. On the bright side, you can actually hit two birds with one stone. Many anti-aging products are also great acne fighters. As dermatologist Heidi Waldorf stated in Allure Magazine, “Prescription retinoids such as tretinoin and tazarotene are potent acne medications as well as the gold standard for topical anti-aging.” These retinoids fight acne by removing the dead skin cells that clog pores and cause whiteheads and blackheads. They also reduce the appearance of eye wrinkles and other signs of aging by increasing cell turnover and collagen production. They not only fight the signs of sun damage, but they also fight genetic aging as well.
For less severe acne and wrinkles, try the over-the-counter products that contain lower-strength retinol, which is an active derivative of vitamin A. One product that gets great reviews for preventing breakouts, reducing wrinkles and improving overall skin tone is La Roche-Posay Biomedic Retinol 15.
This is a great product for those with sensitive skin or those who are using retinol cream for the first time. If you’ve started on Retinol 15 or used retinol cream before without skin irritation, you can try the higher strength La Roche-Posay Biomedic Retinol 30. As always, but particularly when using any retinol cream, be sure to wear sunscreen of at least spf 25 during the day to protect your skin from wrinkle-causing skin damage. For extra help around the eye area, try the Clinicians Complex Retinol Eye Cream. It contains retinol and retinyl palmitate for reducing the appearance of eye wrinkles and tocopherol (vitamin E) and soybean oil to moisturize.
Adult acne can be frustrating and embarrassing. By using retinol creams, you can have younger-looking skin – without looking like a pimply teenager!