DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I am in my 20s, and I still have to deal with acne. Why? I thought I would be through with it by this time. What can I do for it? -- J.T.

ANSWER: The teen years are the peak years for having acne, but some adults have to struggle with it too. During adolescence, 85 percent of youngsters have it to some degree. Most are rid of it by age 25. However, 12 percent of women and 3 percent of men have to contend with it until their 40s, and a few, even later. In fact, some adults get acne for the first time later in life.

Acne is caused by the plugging of skin follicles -- ''pores,'' as many call them. Oil sludge and shed skin cells form the plug. Every skin follicle comes equipped with an oil gland. Even when the follicle opening is plugged, the gland keeps secreting oil downstream of the plug.

Acne - New Medical Findings Offer A Better Understanding And ...

You do not have to be a teenager to suffer from acne. While acne typically appears during puberty, over 50% of adult men and women 30 years of age or older, suffer from acne. So pharmacy shelves are overflowing with acne remedies, celebrities are promoting acne treatments on TV, and there are various supplements, diets and home remedies to wipe out those ugly blemishes dotting your skin. But most acne treatments only treat the symptoms of acne instead of its underlying cause, leaving many suffering with reoccurring acne.

It's the Hormones

Bacteria, clogged pores, chocolate and oily foods have all been claimed to cause acne, but new medical findings have proven that it is our hormones that are the underlying cause. Androgens, which are produced by both men and women, play an important role in the development of acne and the most important androgen in this process is a by-product of testosterone called DHT (Dihydro-Testosterone).

AFX NEWS BRIEFING: Pharmaceuticals and chemicals highlights to 09 ...

FRANKFURT (AFX) - Bayer AG's Bayer Schering Pharma business said the US Food and Drug Administration has approved a new indication for the company's oral contraception drug YAZ to treat moderate acne in women using oral contraceptive for birth control.

R-C Midday report

Genoans are seeking emergency repairs to the Town Church after a furnace failed and resulted in frozen pipes.
The Genoa Town Board meets 6:30 p.m. Tuesday to deal with the $2,575 emergency repair of the furnace and deal with repairs to the buildings pipes and fire sprinkler system.
Town Board members gather in the Genoa Town Meeting Room.

Skin care joins allergy treatment
Dr. Steven Brown and the staff at Alpine Medical Associates in Minden Village added skin care to the other services internal medicine and allergy testing they provide. Treatments are available for sun damage, acne, eczema and the removal of hair, tattoos and spider veins. Call 782-9118.

Road work
Highway 395 south is down to one lane through Minden for roadwork near Church Street.