The rules of the road for this form of acne are very much the same as for teen breakouts. This means excessive washing, scrubbing, scraping or popping is out! The reality is doing these things can irritate the skin and lead to more acne. It can also promote scarring and infection, which are two things adults don't want to deal with when it comes to their faces.

Fortunately, just like teen acne, adult acne has some treatment potential. The options include:

* Waiting it out. Depending on the source of the acne, time might be all that's necessary to cure it. If, for example, the condition has been caused by hormonal changes in pregnancy, it likely will remedy itself shortly. Just take care while waiting it out to avoid excessive washing and do resist the temptation to pop pimples!

* Over-the-counter medications. Creams, gels and special washes can help in some cases. Follow package directions and take care not to allow the face to dry out too much. This can cause irritation, which might just lead to more adult acne. Try starting with the lowest possible strength in medications or creams. If possible, test out these medications on small, effected areas before trying to use them over the entire face. If side effects are troublesome, consider a different form of treatment.

* Prescription medications. There are a number of different prescription options to help deal with adult acne. From certain antibiotics to Retin-A and even birth control pills for women, medical advice is wise to seek out when cases of acne are particularly troublesome. Some treatments here might not be advisable for everyone. Some acne medications can cause birth defects in fetuses and others might come with a host of other undesirable side effects.

* Herbal/natural aids. Some of these can be very effective at treating acne, even in adults. Follow directions and watch for potential side effects with these, just as is recommended for prescription medications.

* Finding the cause. Sometimes adult acne is caused by something that can be altered to help make it go away. If, for example, a medication is the suspected reason, discontinuing it might solve the problem.

Just when many grown ups thought their days of dealing with pimples were over, adult acne strikes. With a little time, patience and perhaps some treatment, this too will pass.