Q: At 26 I’m suffering from adult acne. I didn’t have problem skin before, what can I do about it now?

Acne is an extremely humbling experience and you have my sympathy! A dermatologist will tell you that there’s no real cure for it, but it can definitely be managed, so get professional advice. Acne is caused by hormone fluctuations and your doctor may prescribe a birth control pill to manage these. At home you can reduce the oil that encourages the acne on your face. Avoid using oil on your skin (this means you have to watch out for oil-rich makeup and sunscreen) and look out for products that are noncomedogenic (meaning they won’t clog pores). Also, don’t use granular exfoliators because these will spread the bacteria; instead, look out for products rich in salicylic acid which helps exfoliate without the use of granules.