Being a teenager may have been a fun time, but few regret certain “teen” conditions like persistent acne. Unfortunately, both women and men may suffer from adult acne, persistence of pimples, long after they’ve bid good-bye to their teen years. Pimples, blackheads and white heads may appear on the face, or on the chest and neck, plaguing primarily adult women. About one in five women continue to suffer from adult acne, and some men note the condition too, though it is less common in men.

There are a number of potential causal factors for adult acne and there are treatments too that may minimize flare-ups. Identifying these causes can help indicate treatment. One thing that should be understood is that adult acne is rarely caused by poor hygiene. Some women try to address the issue by really scrubbing the face. This seldom works, and may exacerbate the problem.

There are several causes of acne in adults. These include persistent blockage of the pores with the use of heavy makeup and moisturizers that are noncomedogenic. Sometimes women note that acne flares up right before their menstrual cycle begins. People who are overweight may have more difficulties with the problem. Most commonly though, hormonal imbalance is the primary cause, and stress may be one of the number one cause for hormonal imbalance.

Adult acne tends to result from the overproduction of hormones called androgens, which can overstimulate the sebaceous glands (glands that produce oil on the skin). Androgens may be boosted in production if a person is under stress, but high androgen levels may be associated with non-stress related conditions. Women who are prone to getting cysts on their ovaries, and who have excessive facial hair may especially note more adult acne.

As scientific as this explanation sounds, there’s one problem with it. Many adult women who have acne do not have higher than normal androgen levels. They won’t benefit from medications that block androgen production like spironolactone or oral birth control pills. These are often recommended to women, especially those with adult acne that flares up as a PMS symptom.

Some of the treatments for adult acne are quite similar to those for teen acne. Gentle face washing, with gentle soap is recommended. Certain topical medications that contain salicylic acid, retinol or peroxide may help reduce breakouts and can be used instead. The trouble is that some women have both acne and dry skin. It’s suggested you speak with a dermatologist regarding finding the right balance of treatments for acne and dry skin, and most women will need a light moisturizer in addition to using over the counter acne treatments.

Certain types of acne benefit from prescription medications. When acne forms large cysts and causes scars, antibiotics may be prescribed to reduce incidence. With any treatment though, you need to check with a doctor if you are sexually active or planning to become pregnant. Antibiotics, and other oral meds may pose a danger to a fetus and need to be avoided.

Since stress levels can boost androgen production and increase incidence of adult cases of acne, you should also work on lowering stress levels. Try to find an activity that you can easily do that helps keep you mentally in balance. Prayer, meditation, and exercise disciplines like tai chi and yoga, or even committing to daily aerobic exercise, may help clear up the skin as much as any other treatment.