There are many different ways to help prevent or treat acne. This article looks at the author’s favourite ten ways to beat acne.
Use a topical acne treatment. This is usually a cream which is applied to the acne-affected areas of skin. A favourite cream for many people is benzoyl peroxide, which is normally applied twice daily. It comes in different strengths to suit mild to moderate acne.
Wash your skin with warm water and a mild soap. It is best to avoid harsh soaps as these can make your acne worse, and hot water can also make things worse. A combination of warm water and mild soap is the least likely to irritate your skin and worsen acne.
Avoid scrubbing acne-affected areas of skin. It may seem to be a good idea to scrub your skin, but this can damage the surface of the skin and spread the bacteria which are involved in causing acne. This could cause the problem to spread to other areas of the skin.
Don’t pick at your acne. Picking or scraping at your acne could increase your chances of being left with scars. Whilst there are several acne scar treatments available, it’s best to avoid scarring in the first place.
Laser therapy can help. Two or three sessions of laser therapy can keep flare-ups at bay for several months. Repeat treatments every few months will help to keep them at bay.
If you have severe acne, retinoids can help (avoid retinoids if pregnant). These are taken orally and can be very effective but can have side effects and must be prescribed by a healthcare professional.
If you would like to use treatments that are based on natural ingredients, there are some natural treatments available. Tea tree oil has antibacterial properties and is said to be a good option. It is applied to the affected areas in a diluted form, and is believed to kill the bacteria which are involved in acne formation.
Green tea cream is a natural treatment and is said to have similar properties to benzoyl peroxide cream, but is gentler. It takes longer to show results than benzoyl peroxide.
If you use cosmetics or sun creams, choose products that are non-comedogenic. These products won’t block the skin’s pores. Blocked pores can make your condition worse.
Medicated sprays can help to reduce flare-ups by reducing inflammation. Some contain salicylic acid to help prevent inflammation of the skin.
If you continue to have problems with acne, you should seek professional advice from a dermatologist or other appropriately qualified healthcare professional. The sooner the acne is under control, the less chance there is of permanent acne scars.
