Healing Adult Acne Your Guide to Clear Skin and Self-Confidence

Acne is generally associated with pubescent teenagers hiding their newest breakout during the school dance. Consequently, most acne treatments are advertised by actors whose parents had to drive them to the audition. So, what happens when you fight the acne of adolescence, only to have it reappear in your twenties and thirties? Adult acne is more common than you may think, and so are the treatments.

First, it may be helpful to understand that battling acne in your adulthood does not mean you are facing a puberty-type stage again. Acne has various causes that can plague children, teens and adults regardless of age, race or background. The basic cause of acne is excess sebum (oil) mixing with dead skin and contaminants and clogging your pores. Excess sebum can be caused by genetics, environment, hormones or stress. Because women have many hormone changes in their adulthood, they are more likely to experience adult acne. Your treatment will be most effective if you can determine the possible causes of your acne and eliminate the factors that you can control.

Second, it can be helpful to know what not to do to treat your adult acne. Don’t squeeze or pick at your pimples. It may be tempting to get rid of that unsightly zit the morning of your meeting, but the infection you end up with the next day or the scars you are left with in a month will not be worth the immediate results. Don’t try to scrub it away. Excess washing will lead to further inflammation rather than cleansing. Acne occurs below the surface, therefore must be treated below the surface. Finally, don’t try to mask it with heavy cosmetics. If your make-up or sunscreen is not non-comedogenic or non-acnegenic, then you are likely clogging your pores even further.

So, what can you do to treat your adult acne? The same principles that your teenager follows to treat his acne will also apply to your adult acne. If you have a mild to moderate case, then you may find an over the counter product that works for your skin. Look for something like a benzoyl peroxide cleanser and follow the directions closely for several weeks. Only use one product at a time. If you aren’t seeing results after continued use or if you are experiencing a reaction from over the counter products, it may be that you need to see a dermatologist. He will work with you to find what works for your skin, and may offer prescriptions such as azelaic acid cream, topical treatments, oral antibiotics, birth control pills or something like Accutrane or Sotret. Be sure to talk with your doctor if you are pregnant or may become pregnant, as some medications may not be safe for your baby.

It may be discouraging to be fighting the acne battle after you thought you’d won; but, take heart, there are plenty of adult acne treatment methods out there and one of them will help you on your way to clearer skin.