Adult acne can have an enormous impact on your life. While acne is very common among young adults, those of us whom never outgrow it face a critical world of people that judge you based on your appearance. An estimated 20% of adult men and 30% of adult women between the ages of 20-60 suffer from adult acne, and the numbers are growing. The following is an explanation of why adults continue to suffer from acne long after puberty and some possible treatments that are proven to work.

Causes of Adult Acne
The main cause of adult acne is sebum, which is an oil produced in your sebaceous glands. Sebum clogs your pores and causes them to swell, e.g. a whitehead or blackhead. Some other causes are cosmetics, different anti-aging creams, and lack of sleep.

Adult Acne Treatments
The treatment of adult acne is different than the treatment of teenage acne. Finding an effective treatment is basically a trial-and-error process and will take some time. Here are some suggestions:

Prescription Medication – Topical antibiotics like clindamycin fight acne bacteria at the source, the skin. Tetracycline, an oral antibiotic attacks acne from the inside out by balancing hormones.

Cleansers – For adults, it is important to find a cleanser that is gentle and void of scrubbing beads and exfoliators because they irritate “older” skin. The most gentle cleansers are aquanil and cetaphil.

Laser Treatment – For a more high-tech solution, laser or intense light treatments can target and kill acne-causing bacteria. This type of treatment is expensive, however, and could have the potential to be dangerous.

Skin-Care Regimen – Acne treatment systems generally consist of a cleanser, treatment, and moisturizer. These regimens are strict, but often have positive outcomes that are easy to achieve if you properly use the product.

- Acne that once cleared during adolescence is reoccurring.
- Acne that occurs for the first time could be linked to medication, exposure to certain chemicals, metabolism, or physical pressure applied to the skin.
- Acne tends to flare up after a time of relative quiet, for example while a woman is pregnant.

Keep in mind that lesions appearing on the skin are not always acne. Folliculitis often occurs during adulthood and is completely separate from acne in that it involves the hair follicles individually and requires a much different form of treatment.

Unfortunately, acne during adulthood may be very difficult to treat if there are recurrences. Many patients with severe acne undergo tons of treatments with various drugs throughout their lifetime.