Adult Acne Attacks

You'd think your acne problems would be over once you hit your twenties. You'd think that you've endured the last zit on your face when you graduate from college only to wake up to a big red bulge on the day of your first job interview. Surprise! There is such a thing as adult acne.

Adult acne can afflict 25% of all adult males and 50% of all adult females. In fact, adult acne can occur well over the age of 30 or 40 and beyond. Adult acne is more common than what most people think and because it is an unrecognized problem, it can cause great emotional trauma. People tend to accept acne on teenagers but are less empathic when they see it on adults.

A pimple or what doctors refer to as a comedo, is at the center of an acne breakout. It is a plugged up canal filled with hair, an oily substance called sebum and dead skin cells that makes for a desirable environment for bacteria to grow. When this breaks the skin, we see it as blackheads. When it does not break the skin, we see it as whiteheads.

Now the most common misconception about acne is that it is caused by dirt or poor hygiene. This is simply not true. In fact, over washing of the infected area can cause dryness and most often result in more breakouts. Washing twice a day with a mild soap is what most doctors recommend.

Never, ever, squeeze or pop an acne spot. This will just push the bacteria deeper into the skin or break the cellular walls and spread the infection, making the acne grow bigger. Worst of all, it can lead to scarring. Doctors use a procedure called "acne surgery" which is essentially squeezing the pimple but using a special sterile equipment to prevent infection and scarring.

The treatment of adult acne does not differ much. In fact, most commercial products that you will find in your local drug store that has the active ingredient benzoyl peroxide will work on an adult acne breakout as well as it did when you were a teenager.

However, the latest breakthrough in acne treatment is the development of a topical a of retinoic acid which is a kind of Vitamin A. This new treatment significantly reduces the irritation caused by acne and it is available in the new slow-release formula.

There are different types of acne and there is no one treatment that fights all the types so it is always recommended to see a dermatologist instead of trying out the multitude of pimple busting, zit zapping products available in your neighborhood drug store. In fact, with the right diagnosis of the kind of acne you have, a single prescription can quickly reduce your suffering.

That's not to say that commercial products are not effective however. But each product targets the different known causes for acne and sometimes you may need to use a combination of these products. These treatments include:

. Azelaic acid cream

. Alpha-hydroxy acids (including glycolic acid, lactic acid and gluconic acid)

. Benzoyl peroxide

. Topical antibiotics (gels, lotions and solutions)

. Antibiotics pills (haphazard use may lead to antibiotic resistance)

. Birth control pills for women

. Accutane or Sotret for severe acne (Note: Can cause birth defects so women who choose to use this treatment must be certain that they are not pregnant).