Treatments of adult acne and teenagers acne are not that different. Most cases of teen acne are caused by over-activity of their oil glands due to puberty. Meanwhile, alot of the adult acne causes run deeper. Imbalance of the hormones, stress, unhealthy lifestyles and smoking are all common causes for adult acne.



For women, they tend to experience more breakouts around their periods, pregnancy and even menopause as well. A recent study conducted by dermatologist Alan Shalita suggests that more than half of the female population are affected by acne flares-up before their periods. Usually these type of acne doesn't respond well to traditional therapy such as topical retinoids and antibiotics.

Irregular menstrual cycles, consistant increased breakouts before the menstrual cycle, increased facial oiliness are just a few symptoms of hormonal acne. A test of the level of androgens in the bloodstream can also tell if you are one of the sufferers. Adult acne generally affects women in their 20s well into their 30s. In some cases, patients also experience breakouts on their neck, chest and back areas.

Hormonal adult acne can rarely be treated by topical medications alone. Genearlly, it requires small dosage birth control pills to guide the hormones back on track. Always consult with your dermatologist if you suffer from this kind of acne as he or she would recommend the most effective treatments for you.

Adult acne often are even more severe than their teenage counterparts, sometimes with the developing of cysts. Try to keep your stress level low (I know it's hard) and get at least 8 hours of sleep a day. I'm not just saying it but a healthier lifestyle DOES have a positive effect on your skin conditions. Also, a common mistake I see alot of people make is they use products that are too strong and aggressive. Often this may backfires as your skin over-reacts to defend its own moisture level, causing even more oil production.