Treating Acne
There are three important things to keep in mind about treating acne:
- Don't put it off. The earlier acne is treated the better, especially if the acne is moderate or severe, which can leave permanent scars.
- Don't expect overnight success. Some treatments can take six to eight weeks to work.
- Don't give up. Not all treatments work, but everyone can find one that does. After 10 weeks of no change, try something else.
Other general tips for controlling acne:
- Don't pick at or pop pimples. Picking at acne can make it worse. It also can cause permanent scarring. If a pimple arrives the day of a big event, hide it with oil-free makeup or cover-up. Some over-the-counter acne medications are available in skin tones.
- Choose oil-free makeup. Same for moisturizer. Look for the terms noncomedogenic and nonacnegenic. Wash all makeup off your face at the end of every day.
- Keep hair products away from the face. They can clog pores.
- Wash hair regularly to prevent oil from getting on the skin. Keep hair off the forehead.
- Don't tan to cover up acne. It doesn't make pimples go away and tanning damages the skin. Apply sunscreen 20 minutes before going outdoors, but be sure it's oil-free.
Prescription and over-the-counter products are available to treat acne. For the treatments to be effective, they must do one or more of the following:
- decrease the production of oil or sebum,
- reduce the amount of bacteria,
- unplug pores, or
- fight inflammation.
Treatment varies depending on the severity of acne. For more information, click on one of the links below:
