More adults have pimples than you might think: half of all adult women and one-quarter of all adult men experience an acne breakout during their adult lives, according to the website Acne.org. Acne after age 20 often resists treatment more stubbornly than teenage acne, but fortunately there's plenty you can do at home to clear your skin.
Causes
Hormones in both adults and teenagers tend to drive pimple development by causing the skin to produce oil, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Too much oil tends to clog your pores, causing zits and inflammation. However, most people who suffer from pimples as adults don't have abnormal hormone levels -- instead, they may simply have skin that responds to normal hormones by producing too much oil. (ref#2, 3)
Skin Care
At home treatment for adult acne begins with proper skin care. Although you might think you should aggressively scrub your skin to rid it of the excess oil, this can irritate your skin and cause new breakouts. Even a washcloth can cause irritation, and many soaps are too harsh for adult acne-prone skin. Instead, wash gently twice a day, using your fingertips and a mild cleanser, advises the American Academy of Dermatology.
Over-the-Counter Treatments
Many cosmetics manufacturers target adult women with acne specifically with pimple-concealing cosmetics that also fight the skin condition, notes the AAD. If you would like to try using these cosmetics as part of your at home treatment, you should look for products that contain salicylic acid and that state they're formulated for women, not teens. Some products aimed at the teenage market can dry adult skin too much. The AAD also recommends over-the-counter products containing sodium sulfacetamide and sulfur for adult acne.
Prescription Medications
If your adult acne fails to clear with over-the-counter remedies and gentle skin care, you may need help from a dermatologist, who can offer many prescription treatments for home use. Topical medications containing benzoyl peroxide and an antibiotic, when applied as directed, can help fight the bacteria that often worsens acne, according to the AAD. Oral antibiotics taken once or twice daily often can help to clear adults' skin. For adult women, oral contraceptives can help to clear acne when taken regularly.
Considerations
Regardless of which at-home treatment you use to clear your acne, the AAD warns that you should never pick at your acne lesions, as doing so can introduce infection and help that infection to spread. In addition, only use skin care products that are marked "oil-free" or "non-acnegenic," as these won't introduce oil that can clog your pores.
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