Managing Acne and Acne Treatment

By Audrey Roberts

Acne is a problem that almost all of us have at one time or another in our lives. Apparently acne problems are here to stay.

Some people, especially teens, are having their first encounter with acne and do not know what to do. Others have already tried so many treatments that just simply do not work. Well, both groups will surely benefit from our list of top ways to manage
acne and treat it.

Managing Acne

If you have acne and are treating it, you should take some precautions to avoid making your acne worse.

Do not pick, prick, pop or squeeze your pimples. Doing this may worsen your acne, cause inflammation and may even leave a scar because of the pressure put on the pores and tissues underneath.

If you shave, take the necessary precaution to avoid nicking your pimples with the razor. It would be better if you can lessen shaving while the acne is still in its inflamed stages.

For those who wear makeup, be sure to remove all traces of it at the end of the day. Remove makeup by washing with a gentle and mild cleanser and warm water. Pay attention to acne or pimples that appear or flare-up after you use a specific cosmetic. You should not use that product again if this is the case.

Do wash your face at least twice a day, but do not overwash it. Washing the face often will only make the skin dry and may only irritate your skin and aggravate the acne instead of helping.

A healthy and balanced diet and drinking lots of water will work wonders at supporting the acne treatment that you are using to control your acne.

Learn about the possible triggers of acne. If you can find out what causes your acne, you can avoid it or limit your exposure to it.

Acne Treatment

A lot of over-the-counter remedies are available for mild to severe acne. However, it is not advisable to just apply these medications to your skin without consulting your dermatologist, because it might just worsen the problem rather than treat it.

Acne treatment can be broken down into three classifications: topical, systemic and
procedural. In order to have the correct treatment for your acne you should first determine the type and severity of acne you have and the type of skin you have.

Topical treatments are those over-the-counter or prescribed creams, lotions or ointments that are to be applied to the infected area. Mild to moderate acne can be treated using topical treatments
although you will have to see a dermatologist for more severe acne that may need topical treatments that require a prescription.

Systemic treatments are medications in the form of pills or injections such as antibiotics or hormonal medications in order to treat severe or cystic acne methodically. These treatments are done when topical treatment has to be augmented because it is not enough to treat the acne. Systemic treatments should be administered under the advice of a doctor.

Procedural treatments are medical procedures performed by a dermatologist or esthetician such as comedone extractions, facial or chemical peels, microdermabrasion or deep exfoliation, laser treatments and corticosteroid injections which are done to treat mild to severe acne in support of topical or systemic treatments. These procedures should be done in clean and stringent surroundings
to avoid infections and by certified and well-trained dermatologists or skin care professionals.

For a more thorough discussion of these acne treatment options, as well as to find out how to manage and care for your skin to prevent and maintain clear skin, Click Here.