What’s Up With Adult Acne?

Fight back with OTC products.

• Use a salicylic acid cleanser. A 1 to 2 percent salicylic acid-based face wash is a better option for thinner, aging skin, says Fusco. This ingredient loosens dead skin and oil trapped in your pores. Try: Olay Total Effects 7-in-1 Anti-Aging Salicylic Acid Acne Cleanser, which combines salicylic acid with exfoliating microbeads to reveal fresh, younger-looking skin.

• Switch things up when necessary. If you notice skin becoming more oily in the week leading up to your period, upgrade to a product that combines the exfoliating power of salicylic and glycolic acid, says Austin. His Cane + Austin Acne Treatment Pads contain 2 percent salicylic and 5 percent glycolic to help clear oil and fight lines.

• Hydrate your skin. A huge mistake that many acne sufferers make is skipping the moisturizer, thinking it will cause a breakout, explains Jeffrey Dover, M.D., a dermatologist in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. But these very ingredients that fight acne and wrinkles also strip moisture from skin, so it’s important to slather on a hydrating cream. Murad Anti-Aging Moisturizer SPF 20, contains hyaluronic acid, “a humectant that traps and holds onto moisture without clogging pores,” says Fusco.

• Enlist the power of a serum. Facial serums deliver a concentrated form of a particular active ingredient. Dover likes Neutrogena Ageless Intensives Anti-Wrinkle Deep Wrinkle Serum, a blend of retinol (to increase cell turnover) and antioxidants (to stave off skin-damaging free radicals that can lead to collagen breakdown).

MORE: Skincare for Acne

Up the ante with a prescription-strength treatment

• Reach for retinoids. The gold standard for both pimples and wrinkles—retinoids—are available under many different brand names including Retin-A or Refissa with concentrations ranging from 0.025 to 0.1 percent. This pharmaceutical strength vitamin- A derivative deeply exfoliates skin’s top layer increasing cell turnover and unclogging pores. “Over time tretinoin stimulates collagen production to plump up fine lines and wrinkles,” Fusco adds.

See spots run with in-office procedures

• Deeply purify your pores. Fusco’s go-to procedure for treating spots and wrinkles is Isolaz, a vacuum and broadband light combo that cleans pores and blemish-causing bacteria.

• Go for an exfoliating chemical peel. “Peels administered by a dermatologist have a much higher percentage of salicylic or glycolic acid than what you’d find in an OTC product,” says Connolly. “When performed monthly, they help to shed the top layer of your skin to minimize both acne and fines lines.” The cost ranges from $75 to $125 per peel. Discuss your skin’s sensitivity with your doctor to determine which acid is right for you.

• Zap zits with a high-tech laser. Certified esthetician and laser specialist Michelle Moyer, owner of Pulse Laser & Skincare Center in New York City, is a big fan of the SmoothBeam Laser. “It kills bacteria and shrinks sebaceous glands to slow oil production, while helping skin produce more collagen,” she says. The procedure can cost up to $500 per treatment. Six to eight treatments spaced six weeks apart are recommended.

QUIZ: Is Stress Making Your Skin Worse?