There’s no nice way to say this—adult acne sucks. While most of us expect to be affected by spots at some stage during our teen years, it seems incredibly unfair to still be dealing with pimples into our 20s, 30s and beyond. That said, it’s not uncommon at all, one third of total acne-related visits to dermatologists are made by women over the age of 25.

Because there’s no single answer to the question of what causes pimples, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to treatment, either. That’s right, there’s no one best acne treatment for adults. However, there are a
few helpful-for-most adult acne treatments you can try at home.

Stick to a Consistent Routine: Regardless of the cause of your acne, there is one thing that benefits everyone—committing to a steady skincare regime. Simple is generally best, so don’t go crazy splashing out on products galore. The basics include a gentle- but-effective cleanser that doesn’t strip, a hydrating moisturiser and daily broad spectrum sunscreen. Also….Don’t squeeze. Ever.

Exfoliate (But Not Too Much): Keepingyour pores clear on a regular is important but overdoing it with exfoliation can do more harm than good. La Roche-Posay’s Effaclar Duo (+) is a moisturiser that contains clarifying and anti-bacterial salicylic acid helping to reduce blemishes and clogged pores. A bestseller in Europe, it is potent but not so powerful that it’ll irritate sensitive skin types.

If your GP recommends prescription medication to manage your acne, keep your skin hydrated with a soothing moisturiser like La Roche-Posay’s Effaclar H – designed to be used alongside anti-acne medications.

La Roche Posay is now available exclusively at Flannery’s Pharmacy. Call in for professional advice and a free spotscan instore.

This week is Dental Health Week, the Australian Dental Association’s major annual oral health promotion event. Its aim is to educate Australians about the importance of maintaining good oral health by promoting these key messages:

• Brush twice a day with a toothpaste that contains fluoride.
• Clean in between teeth at least once a day with floss or an interdental brush.
• Eat a healthy, balanced diet and limit sugar intake.
• Regularly visit the dentist for check-ups and preventive treatment.

This year, these important messages will be reinforced via the tagline ‘How’s Your Oral Health Tracking?’, which draws off the Australian Dental Association’s Oral Health Tracker report cards, a world-first initiative that documents and tracks Australia’s oral health status.

Tempting though it is to think everyone is practicing good oral health, the reality is that the oral health of many Australians is not where it should be.

• 65% of Australians haven’t seen a dentist in the last two years.
• 50% of Australians brush their teeth only once-a-day.
• Nearly 40% never floss or clean between their teeth.
• 73% of young people (14-18 years) are consuming too much sugar.

All of which means that getting the message out there about good oral health is more important than ever. Since the best oral care education occurs face to face, from dental professional to patient, the ADA encourages you to use the Dental Health Week website, the associated resources, and even the ADA’s Oral Health Tracker to help start conversations about keeping track of mouth health and making oral health a high priority.

(Source: www.ada.org.au)