Acne can affects adults as well and when it does it is more difficult to treat. Acne skin treatment used for teens is not always as effective for adults. Women are more affected than men, and acne problem may persist until menopause.

How acne forms...

Dead skin cells clog up hair follicles, which causes sebum (oil that is produced by the hair of follicle) to buildup. As a result, hair follicle becomes infected and inflamed, which leads to development of blackheads and whiteheads. Additionally to that, if follicle bursts, surrounding areas will become infected too and new pimples will form.



The most common type of acne acne vulgaris affects around 50 percent of adult women. Fortunately, this type of acne usually doesn't leave any scars. Scarring is more common in cystic acne - one of the forms of acne when the pimple erupts underneath the skin and infects the surrounding tissue.

What causes adult acne...

Although the cause of acne is unknown, it is possible that stress is a contributing factor. Stress raises the level of male hormone testosterone in both men and women, and higher levels of testosterone are associated with increased oil production.

Another reason is use of some cosmetic ingredients, such as oil- and petroleum-derived products. Use only mild products and avoid scrubbing and irritating the skin in other ways. When choosing your moisturizer make sure it is oil-free, and moisturize only when you need to.

Over-the-counter acne products...

Generally, it is said that acne can't be cured. However there are numerous ways to reduce its symptoms and prevent scarring. If your case is not severe, over-the-counter products may work well for you, but you might have to try several products before you find what works best. In case of chronic or severe acne you must consult the doctor to deal with the problem on another level.

Benzoyl peroxide is one of the most common ingredients in over-the-counter acne skin treatment products, which has antibacterial and drying properties. Benzoyl peroxide prevents infection and reopens clogged pores. Over-the-counter products contain low concentrations of this ingredient. You can start here and wait for a few months to see if there is an improvement. In case there is no results within a couple of months, get a prescription for benzoyl peroxide product with a higher concentration.



Another over-the-counter product for acne treatment is salicylic acid. It peels off the surface skin cells, cleanses the pores and prevents clogging of the pores.

Astringents are another option. They work by drying the skin and removing dead skin cells. The examples of astringents are witch hazel, resorcinol and isopropyl alcohol. Isopropyl alcohol is a very strong astringent and should be used with caution.

Prescription medication for acne treatment

If over-the-counter remedies don't do anything for you, try one of many prescription medications, such as topical solutions and oral medications.

Antibiotics eliminate the bacteria that infect clogged pores. As a result, skin inflammation reduces and spread of infection stops. However, it might take several weeks to see the results of antibiotic treatment and generally this type of treatment takes more than a year. However, antibiotic treatment could be associated with some uncomfortable side effects, such as allergies and sun sensitivity.

Hormonal therapy also proved to be effective for acne skin treatment in women. Acne outbreaks in the week before a woman gets period indicate hormonal imbalances. This treatment includes oral contraceptives that block effects of testosterone on oil glands and hair follicles. This causes reduction in oil production and acne outbreaks stop. The result will be visible in one to three months.

Most acne skin treatments require prolonged periods of time, sometimes years. Once the improvement is achieved, the maintenance dose is usually necessary.





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