1. "Adult acne" is a very common problem, but an under-recognized one. 
  2. It’s frustrating to see acne on your face after successfully navigating the ravages of adolescence on your skin.
  3. A treatment that worked so well during our teen ages can be useless or make acne worse.
  4. Yes, adults get acne well into their 30s, till 50s & its even possible to get acne for the first time as an adult.
  5. Women get adult acne more often than men, and the reasons can be any of the following:
  • Hormonal imbalance- Break outs happen due to fluctuating hormonal levels which are seen around periods, during pregnancy, pre-menopausal, menopausal and Oral contraceptive pills (starting/stopping).
  • Other health conditions,, like PCOD, Thyroid, etc can lead to adult acne.
  • Stress- Stress causes release of excess of androgens ( hormone) in our body which stimulates oil glands and cause acne flare up. That’s the reason we find acne a constant phenomenon when we are under stressful conditions at work and home.
  • Food- food items which aggravate acne are like oily food ,milk  ,bakery items,chocolate etc, however all these foods will not cause acne in every one. So avoid food which is causing acne in your case.
  • Genetic factors- Very strong family history of acne can lead to acne in adult life. So one with such family history  has to take extra care .
  • Medications- Certain medications like anti seizure drugs, corticosteroids ,etc can lead to acne. If you are on any such medications please consult your treating doctor. Many of OTC products which are for fairness and anti-aging can lead to acne. So be cautious about just picking up some fairness cream just because its branded or has nice fragrance.
  • Products- Use of comedogenic cosmetic products,compacts, consealers ,foundation etc will aggravate acne. So make sure all your daily care products like sunscreen, moisturisers, etc are NON-comedogenic.
  • Daily skin care. Its very important to have a regular skin care . Cleanse your face twice a day with a gentle cleanser which is suitable for your skin. Apply a toner to control oil if your skin is oily. Followed by a non comedogenic sunscreen. At night after cleansing apply non comedogenic moisturizer, Elovera  based is preferred.
  • If nothing clears your acne, you should see a dermatologist. Dermatologist will use multiple treatments to make treatment effective and avoid permanent scarring . With a dermatologist’s help and a bit of patience, virtually every case of acne can be controlled.
  • Don’t treat adult acne  at home by squeezing them as squeezing acne can lead to infection, spread of acne  and permanent scarring of face.
  • To conclude, acne scars are for life. Though many treatments like, Micro needle RF, Laser , Dermaroller , chemical peels are available ,none can clear scars 100%, they can only reduce scars. So in my opinion the best treatment for acne scars is "PREVENTION."

Take care! :)