Anyone who suffers from acne knows that it’s difficult to deal with. Many things can make acne worse, like certain foods, stress and even facial cleansers, but it can be hard to find the things that will make it better. Much of the focus is on trying cleansers and treatments and discovering if they work.
But there are some treatments that are more effective than others. Half the battle is identifying the severity of the acne and treating it according to the severity. Acne treatments for someone with mild acne will be vastly different than for those with moderate to severe acne.
Treatment for mild acne is fairly simple. In fact, overdoing any treatment regimen can create more problems, so it’s best to take a moderate approach first. For mild acne, which is identified as just a clustering of whiteheads or blackheads or simple pimples, the best treatment is using a mild soap, following with a benzoyl peroxide treatment and using a product with salicylic acid. These treatments usually work for people with relatively mild acne, but if they don’t work for you, your doctor can prescribe lotions that are a bit more intense.
For those with moderate to severe acne, the treatment changes a bit. Moderate or severe acne is usually defined as acne that includes nodules or cysts and that are deep enough to leave scars if not treated properly. If you go to the doctor with severe acne, a doctor will often prescribe oral antibiotics to get the skin healthy faster; this will accompany a prescribed regimen of care.
Treatment for moderate acne is usually a combination of treatments and products. A doctor will usually customize a treatment regimen based on the patient’s overall problems.
Some treatments for moderate to severe acne include using benzoyl peroxide, using prescription retinoids in lotion form, using prescription gels, creams and lotions that contain antibiotics and taking oral retinoids. The most commonly prescribed retinoid is Accutane. Sometimes a doctor will drain larger pimples and cysts or require the patient to apply azelaic acid.
It can take six to eight weeks for some treatments to begin working; sometimes the acne gets worse before it gets better. Sometimes lifestyle changes are ordered along with treatment options; these can include a change in diet, changes in hair or other product that might come in contact with facial skin, and avoiding the sun. The sun can exacerbate acne problems in some people, especially those on medications for acne.
Acne is hard to live with, but it’s not impossible to treat. Finding the right treatment is most of the battle.
Worrried about the side effects of those acne treatments you’re using? Why not try natural acne treatments that clear up your acne and don’t do anything nasty to your skin?
