Most people believe acne only affects teenagers. Truth is that many are surprised to notice acne breakouts appearing in their late 30s. Adult acne is a skin problem linked to stress and hormonal problems. Fortunately, most individuals can use a regular acne cream to treat their problem. Even so, there are many that need additional treatment to clear their skin.

Acne Skin Care: Dealing with Adult Skin

When you're in your twenties, you should have a skin cleansing routine. Even though most people can keep their acne at bay with a basic skin care routine, here's one that will help keep your skin clear of bacteria, extra oil and dead skin cells.

A basic cleansing routine involves: cleansing, toning and moisturizing daily and exfoliating once a week. Decide on products that are efficient yet soothing for your skin type. This may require a bit of trial and error on your part, but it will be worth it in the long run.

Hormone Treatments: A Different Type of Solution

Hormone treatment solutions are generally regarded as a good acne treatment because many adults suffer from hormonal acne. The main idea of hormone therapy is to regulate the production of androgens, which are hormones that are directly linked to the development acne. Make sure that your hormone therapy is supervised by the appropriate medical professional.

Spironolactone

This product is a synthetic steroid that can bind to the body's androgen receptors. This action keeps androgens from binding to the cells receptors and inhibits 5-alpha-reductase activity and reduces androgen biosynthesis. More studies need to be done to get a better picture of its results.

Oral Contraceptives

Because OCs contain estrogen and progestins, they have a direct effect on how much androgen the body produces. Estrogens are not only responsible for the production of adrenal and ovarian androgens, but they can also help reduce the amount of the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase, which can in turn, help lower the levels of DHT.

Progestins, however, can vary their androgenic or testosterone-like activity. Which means that their effect on acne can be variable. If you are trying to control acne, it is best to use progestins with the lowest androgenic activity.

All Natural Acne Remedies

Natural acne products are the best solution for somebody that has sensitive skin. Natural products such as honey, tea tree oil and aloe vera have shown dramatic effects on acne outbreaks, but they are not the only ones that can help. In fact, there are still other natural ingredients that have proven to be much more effective.