Most people will automatically think about their teenage years when they hear someone talk about acne. However, acne is quite common in adults as well. And sadly enough, adult acne is often 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 look at the different alternatives adults have for treating their acne skin.

Acne Remedies & Skin Care Products

As an adult, looking for the right acne skin care products may be daunting. But keep in mind that adult acne isn't that different from teenage acne and can be treated with the same types of products. This should make your search a bit easier.

Acne responds very well to salicylic acid and retinol. These ingredients help regulate the production of sebum. They can also eliminate it from the surface of the skin.

Benzoyl peroxide is another ingredient that is very effective against acne. However, it can be quite irritating to sensitive skin. If your skin isn't responding well to this ingredient or is very dry and sensitive, then you might want to use more moisturizer or 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 will help reduce 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 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. Make sure to consult with your doctor about the possible side effects these medications can cause. Accutane, especially, can cause severe problems.

Acne Remedy: Hormonal 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 get your acne 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 work reducing the levels of testosterone in the body. DHT inhibitors are another form of hormone therapy.

Recently, there have been studies done showing that a person's ability to convert testosterone into DHT has a direct effect on the appearance of their acne. By inhibiting DHT, doctors can reduce the possibility of acne outbreaks.