Most teenagers grow out of their acne outbreaks once they reach adulthood. However, some continue to suffer from them even in adulthood. Acne is normally triggered through the oily substance known as sebum, which is found in the skin's sebaceous glands. When sebum clogs the skin's pores, they become an attractive location for the growth of bacteria and associated inflammation.For certain adults, acne breakouts are the result of hypersensitivity to male hormones known as androgens, or the overproduction of them. In some others, an imbalance of male and female estrogen hormones can also cause the painful breakouts of acne. Women primarily experience such breakouts during times like pregnancy, pre-menopause and menopause.Most dermatologists agree that the treatment of adult acne is not straightforward. Treatments that are used for teen acne cannot be used to treat adult acne. Effective treatments, therefore, need to be multi-faceted and potent to curb the exact causes behind the breakouts.The first line of defense against adult acne can come from cleansers. It is advisable to use cleansers that are gentle in nature, rather than using those that contain strong gels, beads, and granules, as these can aggravate the acne. Next, adult acne can be curbed using retinol-containing products that help to clean pores as well as provide youthful results. Furthermore, acne scars and the associated skin discoloration can be effectively prevented by using products containing salicylic and glycolic acids.For advanced forms of acne breakouts, dermatologists may recommend oral antibiotics. These are excellent for killing the bacteria that inflame pores and reducing the inflammation that creates acne breakouts. Moreover, drugs that balance hormones such as oral contraceptives can be effective during this stage as well. Lastly, dermatologists have the option of making use of state of the art cosmetic dermatological, and laser and light, procedures to treat and prevent acne as well as erase acne scars.Original post blogged on b2evolution.
