When you were a teenager acne was a fact of life, but as an adult you thought it was behind you. Adult Acne is a fairly common condition, afflicting about 1 in 100 men in their forties.

What Causes Acne

Acne is caused by an excess of sebum, an oily substance produced by the sebacious glands within the skin, that clogs a pore or hair follicle. Bacteria that feed on the sebum produce acids, which causes inflamation at the site (also called zits, pimples, whiteheads, or blackheads).

Heredity and stress are key causes to acne outbreaks in adults. For persistent or regular outbreaks consult a dermatologist who may prescribe antibiotics or a topical balm.

What To Do

There isn't a magical solution or cure of adult acne for everyone, however these steps will help stimey the major culprits:

1. Get refreshed -- Frequent washings will remove the excess oils, bacteria, and dead skin that may be clogging your pores. Don't over do it though, too frequent or excessive washings may dry out your skin or overstimulate the glands that produce the sebum, resulting in an exascerbation of the problem and result in "oily skin". Gently pat your face dry with a clean towel.

2. Don't pick at it -- Unless you're an Edward James Olmos impersonator. "Popping" the pimples can lead to infection at the site as well as causing further inflammation. These sites of inflammation can leave red or brown marks long after the pimple has healed, resulting in a pre-matured aged appearance.

Additionally, touching your face is a source of contamination with the bacteria and acne-causing oils.

Hint: A small application of tooth-paste at the site of inflammation will help to draw out the oils and moisture to reduce the visibility of an inflamation

3. Go over the counter -- Most topical acne medications or facial wash's contain benzoyl peroxide that kills the bacteria.

4. Grab a fresh towel -- Frequently change your towels and pillowcases. The fabric retains the oils from your face and becomes a bacteria farm.

5. Lay off the creams -- Products like facial moisturizers can clog your pores.

6. Find some time for you -- Stress is a key ingredient to adult acne outbreaks. Find some time to relax. Easier said than done. The job's got to get done, right? Look at it this way: In addition to the obvious health risks, stress causes loss of focus and perspective, therefore lower job performance. Take the time out to unwind, even if its just eating your sandwich outside rather that at your desk, and you may find that that huge deadline looming ahead isn't as foreboding as you thought.

Diet

Mom may have been wrong when she told you to take it easy with the chocolate, potato chips, sodas, etc. We're sure she wasn't intentionally lying to you, it's a popular misconception. What you eat isn't as significant to acne outbreaks as we've been led to believe. However, if you think a food choice is the culprit, lay off it for a while, then try it again and see if an outbreak occurs.

Talk to a Dermatologist

Extreme or persistent cases may require a more aggressive approach. Talk to a dermatologist about such prescribed medications as Antibiotics, isotretinoin (Accutane) or Retin-A.

Recomended reading: Healing Adult Acne: Your Guide to Clear Skin And Self-confidence All of us probably remember being told, "Don’t worry, you’ll grow out of it," when we had bouts of acne as teenagers. The truth is, though, that not everybody grows out of acne. In fact, acne can even begin in adulthood and, among women, even after menopause as estrogen levels decline. In addition to physical symptoms, acne sufferers often present psychological symptoms related to the condition like depression, stress, and low self-esteem. These psychological aspects of acne are often downplayed, and the condition is considered "merely cosmetic" and not a true disease. In the worst cases, acne sufferers have been blamed for their acne much like obese people are blamed for their weight, with the disorder being indicative of a lack of self-control, bad hygiene, or an unhealthy diet. But recent research suggests that diet is not a main cause of acne, and that acne is usually caused by the skin's sebaceous glands being pathologically sensitive to certain hormones. Acne can also be a secondary symptom of certain diseases like polycystic ovary syndrome. This book offers a detailed discussion of the physical symptoms, causes, and treatments of adult acne. It offers you useful information about the various effective natural and medical treatments, as well as information on dealing with tangential effects like scarring. This book is unique in that it also covers the psychological aspects of acne, asking you to explore your experiences and feelings relating to the disorder. It includes exercises to build self-esteem and social skills and suggestions for relieving stress and anxiety associated with acne.