DEAR Dr. Fritz,
Cheers to you and the wonderful people of SunStar. People call me Yatskie. I don’t seem to understand why at 29, I am still getting acne. I am getting panicky of this thing. I am even getting the creeps just looking at my face.
Isn’t that for teenagers? Could it be that my make-up is causing these acne eruptions? What about stress? My friend told me to use birth control pills. Will that work? I am considering on visiting a dermatologist. But, I need some more funds to do that. At the meantime, what should I do?
Please help me. Thanks and may God bless you well.
Yatskie of Toril
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Dear Yatskie of Toril,
I can understand your panic attack and barrage of questions. I feel that you are just anxious about your condition. I remember some funny anecdote on your situation: “It’s only hard to face a problem when the problem is your face”. Well, I don’t mean anyway that the problem is your face. But, the acne sitting on it, and I believe that would explain your anxiety. But, don’t panic, my dear. It’s not the end of the world.
Alright, let’s now get to your queries head on. First, acne is not just for teens. There is adult acne and that’s what you have. Its cause is the same thing that causes acne in teens - the excess skin oil and bacteria. Moreover, any changes in hormones, including those brought on by pregnancy and menstruation, can get those oil oozing much. Women who also smoke seem to get more acne than those who don’t puff those cigarettes.
I am not sure if you are a male or female, though. But, whatever sex you are in, I hope you don’t smoke. It’s not just because of acne. But, the adverse health effects of smoking are way beyond acne.
Acne seems also to be in the family. So, if any of your parents had adult acne, I am afraid, you will also have higher chances of getting them. Check your father or mother, then. If any one of them gets it, then, you have the answer. Remember also that people who are in their 40s and even beyond can still get acne. So, there’s no reason that a 29 year old, like you do won’t be able to get them. Right?
You still have a lot of questions. But, we are running out of space for now. So, we’ll continue for your other concerns in my next issue. Until then!
Dr. Fritz
(Dr. Fritz Legarde Espedilla is an aesthetic dermatologist and surgeon and a clinical sexologist. She is also trained in hypnotherapy and Medical Acupuncture. She has been in the broadcast media for more than a decade and has written a book based on her 15 year stint with her radio program, “Healthy is Sexy Secrets ni Dr. Fritz.” She is also a faculty in a College of Pharmacy. For your questions, you may send them to Dear Dr. Fritz, c/o Sunstar-Davao Publishing Inc., Ebro-Pelayo Building, Jacinto St., Davao City, (former Department of Foreign Affairs office), across Ateneo de Davao University and beside Holy Child School of Davao, or you e-mail them to dokfritz@yahoo.com. If you don’t wish your letter to be published, we regret that we cannot answer them. Thank you for your understanding.)