There are many products on the market for acne skin care, some of them hyping so-called "miracle cures". While there are no miracle cures, there are several products that many people find extremely helpful for controlling acne. Below are what we consider to be the best treatments for adult acne and good skin care advice.



At the heart of acne lies the pimple - what doctors call a comedo. It's a plug of fat, skin debris, and keratin (the stuff nails, hair, and skin are made of) stuck in a hair duct. When it's open, it's called a blackhead. When it's closed over, it's called a whitehead. Whiteheads often cause the walls of the hair duct to rupture, which leads to redness, infection, and the papules, pustules, nodules, and cysts of acne.

Boys are more likely to suffer acne scarring than girls. But girls are more likely to have adult acne.

Nearly everybody thinks that acne results from poor hygiene. That's just not so. Adult acne and teen acne are caused by a combination of several factors - hormones leading to excess oil secretion; faulty closing of the hair duct; and infection. Gentle face washing twice a day is much better than more frequent washing.

Many adults experience adult acne from time-to-time, in fact, according to statistics adult acne affects 25% of all adult men and 50% of adult women. For some, an outbreak often coincides with the menstrual cycle or times of stress. For others, it is a mystery. While it can't be cured completely, there are treatments for adult acne that work very well.

Acne skin care ingredients that are often helpful for improving acne include salicylic acid, sulfur, and benzoyl peroxide. For some, these ingredients are too harsh and you may prefer natural ingredients.

When acne skin care is treated in a doctor's office it's called "acne surgery". When done at home, it's called squeezing pimples. It gets immediate results - but when you squeeze pimples at home, you are begging for infection and scars. And squeezing or picking at pimples is a great way to get your acne to spread. Don't do it! Doctors use a special sterile instrument to prevent scarring, infection, and acne spread.

You can also check out the skin care advice aisle at your local drug store. If you've ever tried to buy acne remedies, you know the drug store is loaded with all kinds of products. Which ones should you use? It's not an easy choice say leading dermatologists.

In conclusion, the treatment that is best depends on which type of acne you have. It may well be worth a visit to a dermatologist. They often have samples and skin care advice they could give you to try. People can spend a fortune on over-the-counter medicines when there is maybe one single prescription drug that could solve the problem. Be sure to use oil-free, non-comedogenic lotions or sunscreens. Use something very simple to wash you face with, as well as low-strength benzoyl peroxide. But it would be best to see a doctor to prevent possible acne scarring.