If you suffered from acne as a teenager, there is nothing worse than it still lingering about when you are into your 20s. Unfortunately, acne breakouts don’t end when your teenage years are over, and many adults suffer with acne – it’s a very common condition affecting the self-confidence of grown men and women all around the world.

Knowing what could be causing your acne, though, is important, and it could help you fight it. The London Dermatology Centre calls it a universal condition which becomes a medical condition when it extends into later life. There are lots of types of acne and getting it sorted out should include a visit to a professional dermatologist, but there are a few things you can do to see if you can prevent it.

#1: Causes of Acne

Acne has many different causes, with different types of acne being triggered by different factors. Three of the most common causes are –

• Hormones, especially a fluctuation in hormones prior to the female menstrual cycle. In men, hormone-triggered acne can appear in the form of deep painful cystic acne around the neck, back and chin.
• Stress causes the adrenal gland to produce the stress hormone cortisol and distribute it around the body to help deal with stress. Along with cortisol leaks a little testosterone which causes the oil glands to produce more oil, the primary cause of acne breakouts.
• Over-washing of the face – something people do to try and get rid of acne – can actually make it a lot worse. Cleansing your face more than twice per day or too vigorously can cause the skin to try out, which triggers the production of more oil to compensate.

#2: Treatments for Acne

For all the causes of acne, there are just as many different treatments you can try out. A lot of these can be performed at home cheaply and easily –

• Exfoliation is key for fighting acne and helps deep-clean your pores of excess oils, dirt and grime which can cause acne to build up. Gentle exfoliation, though, not rough exfoliation which will dry out the pores.
• Spot treatments from over-the-counter can be very handy, such as Clearasil. As soon as you notice a pimple, apply some spot treatment to the affected area and it will soon be gone! It dries out the pimple and kills any bacteria.
• Anti-inflammatory products can work for more severe acne and help reduce swelling and redness.

#3: Acne Prognosis

Acne is not a lifelong condition and with proper treatment, even the most stubborn of acne breakouts can be banished. So long as you don’t overly-cleanse your face, drink plenty of water and try to reduce your level of stress, you can go a long way in reducing the occurrence of breakouts, and by using the right treatments you can fight pimples as they appear.

Acne is a condition which affects teenagers and adults alike, but with the right treatment regime and lifestyle changes, you can easily be rid of it.