We all associate acne with teenagers but more and more people are suffering from pimples in their twenties and thirties.
Pregnant women in particular often find they develop acne due to hormonal changes.
If you had severe acne as a teenager but have had no pimples since,you may experience an attack in the run up to the menopause.
Again fluctuating hormone levels are to blame.
But what is acne and how can it be treated? Acne usually appears for the first time in puberty when the sebaceous glands are getting bigger.
We all need the oil these glands produce in order to keep our skin supple.
These oils should drain away but sometimes the pore can become blocked.
Blackheads are the pores that remain open - the air and the dirt give them their black appearance hence the name.
Some people,even some doctors will suggest that you get rid of blackheads by using extractors or strips of specially developed plasters.
While these treatments may work,they are likely to cause red scarring which may be more difficult to deal with.
Closed blocked pores become whiteheads.
Bacteria living on our skin feeds on the materials trapped in these pores causing spots to appear.
Some people get a multitude of pimples while others only get a few; but these tend to be large and very difficult to treat.
Cysts are particularly painful and probably need an oral antibiotic treatment.
You should check with your doctor.
So how do you actually treat acne? If your outbreak isn't too severe,then over the counter treatments may do the trick.
You need something to fight the bacteria causing the underlying infection.
Look for ones containing salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide.
The problem with some acne skin care treatment products is that whilst they are tackling the pimples,they can also be very harsh on your skin.
Some might not suitable at all.
Over use can lead to skin becoming inflamed,very red and itchy.
It is very important to follow the directions for us,despite being tempted to put the whole tube on at once; in the hope it works quickly.
Been there and done that - believe it or not, could only causes more problems.
If you find the over the counter treatments are not working,consult your doctor or your health practitioner who will prescribe stronger antibiotic creams or indeed oral antibiotics.
These antibiotics tackle the skin problems internally and help reduce swelling.
Accutane is a drug used to treat severe acne but you need to proceed with caution especially if there is a chance you may become pregnant.
This drug can cause severe birth defects and most doctors will only prescribe it to women of childbearing age if all else has failed and if they agree to use two different forms of contraception.
Some acne skin care treatment products will work better than others but I am afraid it will be a case of trial and error.