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.

Symptoms of hormonal acne includes increased breakouts preceding the menstrual cycle, a history of irregular menstrual cycles, increased facial oiliness, increased of certain androgens in bloodstream. This type of hormonal acne is most persistent for women over 30 and usually begins in their 20s. A myriad of these patients experience lesions on their lower face, especially on their neck and jawline. Most have breakouts exclusively on their faces while some of them have blemishes on their chests and backs as well.

If you think you have hormonal adult acne, the best solution is to go to your dermatologist. He or she might let you try taking a relative small dosage birth control pills. In some cases with a relative small dosage to help guide your hormone back on track. Combining oral contraceptives with topical medications or systematic treatments are also common methods for treating hormonal acne.

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.