Adult onset acne can be incredibly frustrating—not to mention embarrassing. Acne is generally thought of as an ailment that afflicts teenagers, but unfortunately, adults are susceptible as well. Getting rid of adult acne often takes more than just good hygiene. Breakouts can be related to hormonal changes, stress, genetics, pore-clogging products or poor diet. It's important to figure out what might be causing your acne, so you can better treat it.

First off, make sure you have a good skin-care regimen. You should wash your face with a facial cleanser morning and night. Pay attention to how your skin feels right after you wash your face. Is it soft and smooth? Or is it tight and dry? You want to use something that doesn't strip your natural oils. If you you use a harsh facial cleanser that strips oil from your face, your skin will overcompensate by producing more oil and sebum. More sebum equals more zits. If you find your face is overly dry, you can also use a non-comedogenic moisturizer.

To fight existing zits, try a product that contains salicylic acid. Salicylic acid exfoliates your skin to help clear and prevent pimples. Another product that works great on adult acne is sulfur. Sulfur dries the skin and unclogs pores. Acnomel is specially formulated to dry up pimples and whiteheads. You should also use a clay mask twice a week, to draw sebum from your pores.

When you have acne, it's hard to resist touching your face. You always want to poke and prod it. However, the best thing you can do is keep your hands away from your face. Make sure to only touch your face after you've used an antibacterial soap on your hands. You should only touch your face when you're applying a cleanser, moisturizer, mask or treatment. If you must pop a zit, wait until it is a whitehead, steam it with a hot, clean washcloth, and use a sterile tool like the EZ Zit Popper to pop it.

Is your acne all over your body? You can find body washes that contains salicylic acid. They works great on pimples on your back, shoulders, arms, butt or chest. Use an exfoliating body sponge like the Body Buf-Puf to keep your pores clear, and shower at least once a day.

For a complete skin care regimen, see a registered esthetician. These are skin care specialists that work at spas or beauty salons. They can help you understand if your skin is dry, oily, or combination, and recommend products to help treat your acne.

A natural path to better skin includes drinking more water and eating more fruits and vegetables. While there is no direct correlation between certain foods and acne, a healthy diet definitely improves your skin's texture. Unfortunately, diet alone won't cure acne.

If a good skin care regimen doesn't clear up your zits, it's time to see your doctor or dermatologist. Be prepared to talk about when your acne started. You may realize that your acne is from something as simple as a new hairspray, moisturizer or birth control pill. Your doctor will talk to you about prescription treatments such as antibiotics, hormonal supplements, retenoid ointments, or oil-reducing medications. There are a lot of treatments out there, and one of them will work for you.