Sometimes it might seem a little unfair. You thought that your acne had finally cleared up, and it shows up again. Acne isn’t just a “teenager’s problem”, because more and more adults are getting it.

The acne you got as an adolescent is called acne vulgaris. It’s different from the condition called acne rosacea. The biggest recent breakthrough in the treatment of acne has been the advent of Retin-A, a type of vitamin A.

There are other treatments that go after the root causes of the problem, and they are sometimes used in conjunction. Some of them are: Any of the alpha hydroxy acids: gluconic and glycolic acid, or lactic acid -Accutane for severe cases -Birth control pills -Topical antibiotic creams -Benzoyl peroxide

Accutane is the most hazardous of all of the above options, due to its risk of birth defects If you’ve chosen to use Accutane, and you’re female, make sure that you have a reliable birth control method on hand.

If you go to a doctor for your acne, it will be treated surgically. It can also be done at home, but this isn’t usually advisable because popping pimples by hand can result in scarred and infected skin. Most severe cases of acne will require a doctor’s care and treatment.

Milder cases of acne are usually treated by over the counter treatments such as Benzoyl peroxide. They rarely return except if you get a case of adult acne. You can visit your local drug store to see a bunch of over the counter options.

Most people will have to try more than one type of treatment in order to successfully clear up their acne. Try the various options until you find one that’s right for you. Many times its a matter of sticking to a whole regimen to try and get rid of the acne all together. Many times acne is caused by triggers which if reduced lead to acne going away.