Many people go through adolescence only to be plagued by acne when they are between 20 and 30 years old. Acne can be controlled with good grooming. over-the-counter products, antibiotics and some new therapies besides Accutane.

Many people go through adolescence only to be plagued by acne when they are between 20 and 30 years old. Adult acne can be a serious problem especially for women. Of course when you're a teenager their are hormonal fluctuations and these cause acne. With women, this cycle is prolonged and the result is adult acne, which can even occur when you are in your 40s and 50s.

Adult Acne Causes
The cause of hormonal acne is most often linked to androgens. This hormone stimulate the oil glands and hair follicles in the skin. This is very normal but when androgen levels increase, acne flare-ups can occur.

The other major causes are oil-containing products that you put on your face or hair. These only compound the problem, especially if hormonal acne is also in play. Nearly half of all women experience acne flare-ups and increased facial oiliness during the week preceding menstruation.

Control and Curing Adult Acne
You can do quite a bit to control and limit adult acne flare ups. It takes time though so be patient. You should start to see results in 2-3 months.

Here's some things you should be doing if you have a mild case of acne:

1. Avoid any facial or hair products that contain lanolin, mineral oil or petrolatum. These substances will clog your pores and aggravate your condition. Using pressed powders, pancake or powder foundation is also not a good idea, since these contain oils,
2. Switch to oil-free or noncomedogenic products. Noncomedogenic is a term applied to oils, lotions, and skin creams that do not block pores. and will reduce the incidence of acne. Large department stores will understand you when you are mention the word "noncomedogenic." If you are in a drug store, read the label carefully before buying,
3. Check out Skin Deep, a cosmetics database that rates products in terms of their hazardous substances. A lower rating (green) is better than a higher rating (red).
4. Don't apply harsh soaps to your face in an effort to clear up acne. Often this dries out the skin and you have to apply too much moisturizer to counteract the dryness. This only defeats the purpose,
5. If your hair is oily, then wash it daily. The oil from your scalp can also clog pores and cause acne,
6. Try some of the over-the-counter acne medicines that contain sulfur, benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid. Don't over use them though since they can dry your face out. Apply them as directed and see if things improve. Skin Deep can help you choose a product or see how your product is rated,
7. See a dermatologist if your acne does not clear up in 2-3 months or immediately if it is moderate to severe,
8. If you notice that you break out after eating certain foods like nuts, chocolate or pizza, then just stay away from them. Keep in mind though, that there is no clinical evidence that foods cause adult acne, and
9. Stress, heat and humidity seem to make acne worse. Stay cool.

Lily's Experience
I do suffer from occasional flare ups of mild adult acne. I found that by following the above steps that I could control it. The challenge was to find the proper balance between keeping my face clean without drying it out. I'm pretty much sold on Proactiv and use it regularly. It is a bit expensive, but the results are very good. See the video and the Proactiv website for more information.

Moderate and Severe Acne Treatments
Moderate to severe adult acne may require taking antibiotics by mouth to first get the acne under control. You might be able to reduce the incidence by 70-80 percent. Topical antibiotic creams are used to keep it under control after your taking it by mouth.

Many dermatologists place patients with severe adult acne on Accutane. There has been some concern about Accutane's side effects, especially in producing depression. Accutane should not be taken by women who are pregnant or are trying to become pregnant. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also issued a warning against online purchases of Accutane.

Here's an excellent summary of Acne from the American Academy of Dermatology.