When you hear the word acne the first thing that probably pops into your mind is adolescence. However, you'll be surprised to learn that acne is quite common in adults as well. And sadly enough, adult acne is often more difficult to treat than its teenage equivalent.

Adult acne is normally related to hormonal fluctuations. The proper cleansing routine is definitely important, but hormone therapy is usually the most effective type of treatment. Here is a quick peek at the different alternatives adults have when treating their acne skin.

Acne Remedies and Skin Care Products

As an adult, looking for the right acne skin care products may be daunting. 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 very well to salicylic acid and retinol, which are both ingredients that help regulate the production of sebum. They can also eliminate it from the surface of the skin.

Benzoyl peroxide is another ingredient that is effective against acne, but is also known to irritate sensitive skin. If your skin is very dry or sensitive then you can use more moisturizer to counteract the stinging effect or you simply switch to tea tree oil.

AHAs are also a good way to treat acne. They help exfoliate the skin and remove excess sebum, dead cells, debris and bacteria. This helps decrease the chances of clogged pores and acne breakouts.

Along with choosing the most effective products, adult acne skin care should include the right cleansing routine to help keep your skin acne free. Remember to cleanse, tone and/or exfoliate, and moisturize. This basic routine should be enough for most cases of mild to moderate acne.

In some cases doctors will prescribe antibiotics or Accutane, however, you should make sure that your doctor has given you all the necessary information, especially information about all possible side effects. Especially if you've been prescribed Accutane because it is known to cause severe problems.

Acne Remedy: Treating Acne with 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 different options that you can try to get your acne under control. These options have to do with inhibiting the production of certain hormones.

Birth control pills are a common way of treating hormonal acne. They center their efforts on reducing the levels of testosterone in the body. DHT inhibitors are another option for hormonal therapy.

Recently, studies have shown that a person's ability to convert testosterone into DHT has a direct effect on the appearance of acne. By inhibiting DHT you can help reduce the risk of acne outbreaks.