Fit Beauty: Dealing with acne at any age

I am well past the age when I thought I'd have to worry about major breakouts. I rarely had pimples or zits when I was a teenager and now that I'm pushing 30, I thought I was safe. Not true. I don't know what it is but suddenly I've began to have super, massive under-the-skin, painful zits on a regular basis and am getting other minor breakouts on occasion as well.

In the last week in particular my skin has been revolting -- and I use the word 'revolting' as both a verb and an adjective in this instance. I was afraid that I was alone until I got a text message from a very good friend giving me a quick update on her life. "Things are good but nearly 30 and suddenly breaking out all over".

So what's the deal? According to this piece adult acne is far from uncommon, with up to 25% of men and a whopping 50% of women between the age of 25 and 50 experiencing breakouts. The article mentions that everything including hormones, genetics and environment may be the cause. (To be honest, I do suspect that part of my problem is a recent move from a very cold, dry climate to a hot and humid one). The piece also says that adults tend to breakout more around the lower portion of the face (that's me!) while teens are usually plagued by zits in their t-zones.

I suppose that it is mildly comforting to know that the volcano on my face is pretty common, but it certainly doesn't make me feel any better about how bad I look at the moment. With very little prior pimple experience, I'm not exactly sure how to deal with the current situation on my face. The article mentioned above goes into detail on face-washing habits and various treatment options, so it is helpful for those of us trying to prevent further breakouts and deal with current ones.

Beyond creams and washing though, I'm never sure whether to start by squeezing or leaving things alone. If you're in the same boat, check out this handy guide on what to pop and where to stop. To give a brief summary -- red = stop, yellow = go and green = get thee to a doctor as you've likely got an infection. Read the entire guide for some handy tips on squeezing, as well as pictures to help identify exactly what you're dealing with.

Unfortunately, I hadn't read the guide before my latest facial explosion and now have learned that I did not deal with it correctly. Too little, too late and now I have a mess all around my mouth and chin that I am having a heck of a time covering up. I'm tired of hiding behind my hair so I'm hoping that the tips offered here will help. The author gives step-by-step directions on how to disguise both under-the-skin, red zits as well as pimples that have come to a head. She also offers her opinion on some of the best products out there when it comes to covering up a breakout.

Beyond these pieces, I would be very interested to hear any tips or treatments that those of you out there (whether in your teens, 20s, 30s or beyond) have discovered when dealing with your own acne, pimples, spots, etc. Please feel free to share any useful advice with the rest of us!