Acne is a condition that is mainly associated with teenagers. Unfortunately, for some people it does not only end when with puberty. Although you may not know it, adult acne is a very common condition.

There is no clear consensus on the actual cause or causes of adolescent or adult acne, however, hormonal fluctuations and genetic predisposition are thought to be two of the main causes. Certain medication can also bring about acne breakouts. One thing is for sure, poor hygiene does not cause acne.

As with adolescent acne, finding the right treatment for adult acne cases will strictly depend on the type of acne you have. For the most part, adult acne breakouts are brought about after stressful situations or during hormonal fluctuations. However, for some people adult acne is more than just a simple pimple, in fact, some acne sufferers experience severe acne, like nodulocystic acne, throughout most of their lives.

Treating Adult Acne

Achieving a well rounded acne remedy for adult acne will depend upon building the appropriate acne skin care routine with the right acne products. It may get a little scary trying to find the right product for your adult acne skin care regimen. Having so many products to choose from makes it a complex task that is oftentimes reverted to a trial-and-error system of all the wrong types of products. These products are generally geared towards adolescents, but rest assured that they can also be used to treat adult skin.

Keep in mind, however, that skin becomes thinner with age, which means that your skin care routine should become much more gentle as the years go by. If you want to keep your skin from harmful chemical agents, choose products that are fragrance free and oil free.

Acne is usually treated with products that may irritate mature, dry or sensitive skin. In these cases, I suggest you find products especially geared towards these types of skin or reduce the frequency with which you use these acne products. You may have to buy several products, but they will be well worth the investment.

Your basic skin care routine should include cleansing, exfoliation and moisturizing. You should exfoliate at least once a week and only add a toner if your cleanser does not remove all of the debris on your skin. After you moisturize, use an acne product to spot treat areas that are prone to breakouts.

This should be enough to keep your skin acne free. However, stubborn cases of adult acne will require a tougher approach. In cases such as this, you might need a prescription cream or oral medication to treat acne breakouts.

Unfortunately, the use of stronger medication also means a higher possibility of irritation. There are slow-release formulas that have helped deal with this problem. There are stronger treatments, both prescription and over the counter, which include:

*Birth Control Pills & DHT Inhibitors

Both types of treatment deal with hormonal problems.

*AHAs

These alpha hydroxy acids include glycolic acid and lactic acid.

*Accutane

This product may cause severe side effects. Consult with your doctor about its use.

*Antibiotics

*Azelaic Acid