subject: Treatments To Get Rid Of Acne [print this page] Acne is a condition of the skinAcne is a condition of the skin. The condition forms under the surface of the skin, so contrary to popular belief, washing away the oils on the skin's surface does little to get rid of acne. The myth that acne is caused by not washing enough is just untrue although it has continued for many years. Gentle washing is important, but too much washing can cause the skin to become even more irritated. Irritated skin is likely to become infected and can cause the formation of even more pimples.
Any cleansers used on the skin should be gentle. Several special cleansers that are made for persons with acne are available on the market today. Choose these cleansers to prevent your problem with acne from becoming more severs.
Gentle exfoliation of the skin helps to remove any dead skin cells from your face. This process should be done once or twice each week. Gentle cleansers are used first, then the skin is exfoliated using a facial scrub. Once again do not scrub too much so you do not cause irritation of the acne. Exfoliation of the skin reduces the dead skin cells which can plug pores and make the problem with acne worse.
Cosmetics should be oil free to prevent more clogging of pores. An oil free moisturizer helps to prevent over drying of the face. Sunscreens should also be oil free. Hair products often contain a lot of oil and this oil can bleed onto the face causing pores to be clogged.
These products that are made to prevent clogging of the pores are labeled noncomedogenic. The products are an important part of the process of getting rid of acne.
If your acne is still causing problems after these steps, you will want to try some of the better treatments that are available without prescription. The best of these treatments will contain benzoyl peroxide. Benzoyl peroxide was once only available by prescription, however it has been available over the counter for many years. Start with the lower strength product and try it for four to six weeks. If you do not see any improvement, then you should increase the product strength and try it for another four to six weeks.
If you do not get improvement using benzoyl peroxide, then you will want to see your doctor. Several medications are available from doctors that are commonly used to treat acne.
One of these products is Retin-A which will cause significant drying of the skin. It can also cause reddening of the skin. You should only use this product at night as it increases sun sensitivity. Use of this product can at times take several months before any improvement is noticed in the acne. In fact, in many patients, the problem becomes worse before it gets better.
Antibiotics are also only available by prescription. They are helpful if the acne is red or swollen. They can also be used if other medications are not working to improve the condition of the acne. Antibiotics work by killing the bacteria which contributes to whiteheads.
Accutane is another medication only available by prescription. This medication comes in pill form and is useful is severe scaring is likely to result from the acne. Acutane has some serious side effects and some doctors refuse to write a prescription for the medication.
It can be a long process to get rid of acne, but the process will prevent permanent scaring.
