You may associate acne with adolescents. However, it is a problem also commonly suffered by adults. Adult acne very often seen in people who are aged 30 plus. Adult acne is can occur at any age, even in adults who have never previously suffered from the problem.

Adult acne can have a number of causes. It is helpful to understand what these are so that your skin complaint can be diagnosed more easily and so that you can take action to treat and prevent it.

The 6 main causes of adult acne are:

1. A reoccurrence of acne that was suffered during adolescent years. The reason for this is largely unknown, except to say that the sufferer is prone to break outs and suffering from this skin complaint.

2. Acne often occurs in expectant women and women who are menstruating. This is due to the change in hormone levels which trigger generation of additional oils in the skin which in turn block the pores.

3. Stressful times in life can bring on bouts of acne. If you are concerned about this then consult a doctor.

4. New drugs and medication can cause acne. Steroids, lithium and drugs which are used to treat TB are commonly known to trigger skin complaints. In addition, be aware of using drugs that contain iodine, rifampin and isoniazid and any affects they may be having on your skin.

5. Rubbing or friction against the skin that is caused by clothing or straps can trigger acne.

6. Chemicals that contain chlorine cause acne. Specific industries often use these types of chemicals and you may need to take care that you do not develop an occupational skin complaint (chloracne) if you use them regularly.

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1.Household cleaning products, even when diluted, should not be used to treat acne. There can be severe adverse reactions including chemical burns from pursuing this route

2.Similarly cleaning powders are ineffective for acne

3.Washing up liquid does not work for acne

4.Home facial saunas will do nothing for your acne, but will certainly aggravate, already sensitive skin

5.Sticky tape left on the skin overnight and removed in the morning will certainly remove dead skin cells and excess oil, but is likely to damage the sensitive skin, and may cause an allergy to the glue

6.Prolonged exposure to the sun or using a sun bed will not help your acne, and can be dangerous if you are also taking oral medication of certain types. For example taking certain antibiotics in tablet form, will make your skin highly sensitive to sun light

7.Sudocrem is an excellent treatment for nappy rash, but highly ineffective for acne, primarily because it contains a mixture of greases and oils which are bad for acne

8.Taking high doses of vitamin A or B will not directly help your acne, and may cause other side-effects

9.Squeezing your spots is universally not recommended in combating acne. Doing so will prolong and spread the acne to other parts of the affected area

There are many other ‘not recommended’ acne treatment regimes, many of which will worsen an already difficult condition. Avoid these shortcuts and stick with a programme overseen by your medical professional, or one which is based on solid scientific and medical evidence. If you do this, you’ll succeed in overcoming your acne condition.

1. A key skill in getting the best out of any situation is clear communication. Your doctor can only act on the information you give him about your condition. Not providing the ‘full story’ is the primary reason for misdiagnosis or a lack of urgent attention. Make sure you tell your doctor, how long you’ve had the acne, what treatments you’ve tried, where does the acne occur and is it worsened by reaction to stress of sunlight.

2. Ask questions about any aspect of your acne that you want to clarify. A good tip is to write down the questions you want to ask, before you speak to your doctor, to ensure you cover everything. Don’t feel embarrassed by asking certain questions, remember there are ‘no dumb questions’

3. Understand that there are no miracle cures for acne, and that you may have to try a number of different treatments before you find one, which is effective, against your particular type.

4. Make sure you mention the emotional side of how your acne makes you feel, if this is of particular concern to you. This is a vital area that is often overlooked, and is clearly important particularly if your acne is resulting in depression, or resulting in a reduction in your social interactions with others.

5. If your doctor prescribes any medication, make sure you fully understand

1) how to apply the treatment,

2)how long will it be before you see any improvement,

3)any side-effects that you may experience,

4)when do you need to return for a follow up, and

5)how long the treatment will last. These key questions will ensure you are fully informed about the treatment programme you are embarking on.

Remember your doctor is there to help you overcome both the physical and emotional side of acne. If you don’t feel you can easily approach your doctor, find an alternative medical professional, such as a dermatologist. What ever you decide to do, ensure you seek help, and don’t let acne get the better of you.