Skin is a tempestuous being. You expect it to be fairly temperamental in your teens (though you're led to believe that Oxy will sort it) and then hope it will settle down by the time you reach adulthood, you surely can't get to 26 and still ha regular outbreaks? That's just not on. And I'm not talking about  those minuscule time-of-the-month chin ornaments but raging pustules and spots that make you consider calling in sick.

I'm no stranger to bad skin, having suffered through bouts during my childhood, but sadly I was one of those people who didn't grow out of it as I left adolescence. Adult acne is a major cause of concern in the twenty somethings of the world, and there are a wide range of products created to cater to us. 

However, ads any sufferer will know, topical creams might provide immediate support, but long-term will often have no results. A good skincare routine is essential, but when you get down to the nitty griity it's an overproduction of sebum in your oil glands which is causing the problem.

Quality skincare can help regulate this somewhat, but for real results you want the hard stuff. I'm talking drugs, the kind you need a prescription for. Doctors are remarkably sympathetic nowadays to skin woes, and will happily put you on a course of medication for treatment.

You'll commonly start on a topical lotion with a high level of salicylic acid, then be moved onto something from the Tetracycline family (Doxycylcine, Minocycline etc). If your skin still proves resistant you have a couple of options left- IPL skin treatment, Roaccutanne and Dianette.

I've tried IPL and I have to say the results were very disappointing. The idea is that the light energy from the laser turns into heat energy on contact with the skin and dries up the inflammation. The reality (for me) was that it was extremely painful, left my face with red marks, and had ZERO effect on my skin. 

The clinician told me that they don't generally recommend this any more, as it works best on males, where it acts as a hair removing treatment which helps unblock the pores (the same laser is used in both treatments on different frequencies).

I've also tried Roacutanne, and this drug works 100%. The difficulty with this is that you need to be referred to hospital so a dermatologist can prescribe it, have regular blood tests, and meet them once a month for assessment. Side effects include dry eyes, cracked lips, oh, and an increased likelihood of suicidal thoughts. 

A couple of high profile suicide attempts some years back explain why this drug is so highly regimented. I've been on two courses of this, and both times had amazing results, experiencing the kind of glowing complexion that you see on airbrushed photos.

The third and final drug/miracle worker is Dianette. This is a contraceptive pill which is taken like any other pill, with 2 days on it, and 7 days off. Due to a high level of oestrogen and cyproterone acetate it's a really effective way to regulate sebum production. It's not an overnight wonder, but within 6 weeks ( around the time it takes for the skin to renew itself – an average 3-5 weeks) you'll find that your complexion has improved.

It's easy to swallow and is a great option for those wary of taking the step to Roaccutanne. It's also helpful for women whose skin blemishes aren't severe enough for heavy-duty meds, yet still feel they want to see some serious change.

Side effects are minimal, and tend to include breast swelling and around 5 pounds of weight gain. It also reduces hair production

I've tried them all, from skin scalding Clearasil washes to ouch-inducing laser, and would have to say that Dianette is indisputably the choice of drugs for adult acne.

Image via Amayzun's Flickr