Most people will automatically think about their teenage years when they hear someone talk about acne. However, you'll be surprised to learn that acne is quite common in adults as well. And what's worse, adult acne may be even more difficult to treat than its teenage equivalent.

Usually adult acne is related to hormonal fluctuations. The proper cleansing routine is definitely important, but hormone therapy is usually the most effective type of treatment. Here's a quick look at the alternatives available for treating adult acne.

Acne Remedies and Skin Care Products

You may feel a bit uncomfortable when you're an adult that's looking for the right acne skin care products. Just keep in mind that adult acne can be treated with the same types of products that teenagers use. This should make it a bit easier.

Acne responds quite well to salicylic acid and retinol, two ingredients that are known to help regulate the production of sebum. As a matter of fact, they can also eliminate sebum from the surface of the skin.

Benzoyl peroxide is another ingredient that is very effective against acne, however, it can irritate sensitive skin. If you have extra dry or sensitive skin you can use more moisturizer to counteract the stinging effect or you can switch to tea tree oil.

Another great way to treat acne is by using AHAs. These ingredients are known to help exfoliate the skin and remove excess sebum, dead cells, debris, and bacteria. This helps decrease the chances of clogged pores and acne breakouts.

When treating your skin condition you should not only concern yourself with choosing the most effective products, but you should also worry about following a proper adult acne skin care routine to help maintain your skin acne free. Remember, your skin needs to be cleansed, toned, exfoliated, and moisturized regularly. This should be enough to help treat most cases of mild to moderate acne.

Oftentimes doctors will prescribe antibiotics or Accutane. If this is your case, then make sure to consult with your doctor about the possible side effects these medications can cause. Accutane, especially, is known to cause severe problems.

Acne Remedy: Hormone Therapy

If your cleansing routine and over the counter products are not having an effect on your acne, it's time to ask about hormone therapy. There are a couple of options you can try to maintain your acne problem under control. Both choices have to do with inhibiting the production of certain hormones.

In women, birth control pills are a common way of treating hormonal acne. They help reduce the levels of testosterone in the body. Another form of hormone theraphy are DHT inhibitors.

Recent studies have shown that a person's ability to convert testosterone into DHT is linked directly to the appearance of acne. By inhibiting DHT, doctors can reduce the possibility of acne outbreaks.