While most people think of acne as an issue for hormonal teenagers, there are a great many people in their 20s, 30s and even 40s who suffer from acne flare ups. In fact, 25 percent of all adult men and 50 percent of adult women will deal with acne at some point, and a third of them will experience acne on their body as well as their face.

Many factors can come into play to cause adult acne, including of course hormones, but also stress, use of cosmetics and an increase in resistant bacteria. Many adult women also notice premenstrual or menstrual flare-ups on the face, often around the mouth.

Acne is a disorder of keratinization, or faulty development of the cells lining the sebaceous gland. The cell walls are sticky, binding together and plugging the gland rather than easily exfoliating themselves onto the surface. Meanwhile, the sebaceous glands continue to secrete sebum (oil), which clogs pores even further. Acne-causing P. acnes bacteria that live on the skin thrive and flourish in this environment, causing inflammation in the gland. This persistent plugging, excessive oil build-up and inflammation cause the gland to rupture, manifesting in inflamed acne papules or cysts more commonly known as pimples, or zits.

Interrupting this cycle at various points will help clear acne, but acne therapy is a long-term process and can take up to 6-8 weeks for considerable improvement to show, so don't expect a quick fix for more serious, ongoing acne issues. Of course the occasional blemish here and there (like the ones that accompany your monthly bill) may be more quickly dried up with a spot treatment, such as Murad Acne Spot Treatment with sulfur, licorice extract and Zinc oxide to soothe and reduce inflammation.

A longer-term strategy should include regimens that focus on killing the bacteria, reducing unnecessary oils, unplugging the pores and reducing inflammation. Start a regimen that includes multiple products aimed at those issues, from cleansers to moisturizers and serums and try to select a line designed for adult skin.

Check out the AHA Cleanser, The Fruits Peel and the Hyaluronic Acid Serum + Glycolic, 3 great products for adult acne from IM-FABULOUS.COM