Acne is usually considered a skin affliction that happens to almost every teenager. But it isn’t just teenagers who suffer from acne. Adults can develop acne, even if they never had it when they were teenagers. Adult acne is a very common skin problem.

What is acne and what causes it? Acne develops when sebaceous glands — the tiny oil-producing glands in the skin — secrete too much oil. This excess oil floods hair follicles and hardens to form a plug within the pores of the skin. Hormone imbalances are often blamed for causing acne. Other factors, such as stress and nutrition, may contribute to the problem.

Acne can leave scars in severe cases and can lead to premature aging of the skin. Even milder cases can cause emotional distress because our appearance is so important to us. Although there is no known cure for acne, hundreds of acne treatment products are available that can help prevent outbreaks and scars. Today’s most effective and popular products contain ingredients such as alpha-hydroxy acids, beta-hydroxy acid and retinol.

Alpha-Hydroxy Acid Products for Acne Treatment
Alpha-hydroxy acids are derivatives of fruit and milk sugars.  The most commonly used alpha-hydroxy acids are glycolic acid, lactic acid and malic acid. Alpha-hydroxy products function mainly as exfoliants. This means they help slough off dead skin cells to leave a rejuvenated appearance. They are also effective for controlling skin pigmentation problems that can result from acne. You might have to try a few different products to determine which alpha-hydroxy product at what potency is most effective and most compatible with your skin type. Fortunately, most acne products indicate the concentration of alpha-hydroxy acid either on the label or in the product name; for example, Peter Thomas Roth offers a Glycolic Acid 3% Facial Wash.

Beta-Hydroxy Acid Acne Products
While there are three alpha-hydroxy acids, beta-hydroxy acid products rely on just one acid — salicylic acid. Like the alphas, beta-hydroxy acid solutions work as exfoliants and may be the more effective ingredient for this purpose for some people. Beta-hydroxy acid penetrates into pores to exfoliate dead cells built up inside the pores, instead of just cleansing the surface of pores. Beta-hydroxy acid facial products are best for oily skin and to fight blackheads and whiteheads. For moderate to severe acne, some people use an occasional beta-hydroxy acid peel to loosen and remove dead skin cells and reduce oil. A beta-hydroxy acid cream such as Neutrogena Rapid Clear Acne Defense Face Lotion Daily can be used for daily acne prevention.

Retinol
Retinol — sometimes called Retinol A — is a pure form of vitamin A that is considered an effective acne treatment. A retinol cream will reduce the formation of pus-filled pimples by detaching excess cells near the base of the hair follicles and unblocking clogged pores. Because retinol can also smooth aging skin, many manufacturers sell retinol skin care and retinol eye care products in products that are not designed as acne treatments. To treat severe acne, prescription strength retinol may be needed. For the prevention of mild to moderate acne, however, a product like Acne Free’s Severe Acne System, Philosophy’s Save Me and other over-the-counter formulations may be sufficient.