If you are a person that has been effected by what acne can do to the skin, you are probably searching for how to clear acne. There are lots of various methods you can try, and the way you will discover the right ones for you are through trial and error. Some of the most common treatments for how to clear acne are:

If you have pimples, acne, or blackheads, be sure not to pop them. This will only spread the infection to other areas of your skin, and actually make your acne appear more inflamed. If you notice a pimple that has popped, be sure to wash it right away with soap and water, or use rubbing alcohol to stop the infection from spreading. One thing that works for some, is when they put some honey and ground cinnamon on the pimple, and also a bandage.

Since stress is a known cause of breakouts, try to avoid excess levels of stress whenever possible. Also, when you wash your face, be sure to use a gentle soap and be certain that it doesn’t clog pores. Use it on a regular basis, and if it is too drying, try another brand until you find the one that works the best for you.

When trying to discover how to clear acne, there are lots of products that can be purchased over the counter that work for people. Natural exfoliates like walnut shells are a great way to remove dead skin cells and keep your skin clear. Just be sure not to exfoliate too much, as this can cause your skin to be irritated, making new pimples form. Pat dry your skin, never rub, to avoid damaging the new skin that is just forming.

If you play sports, wear a headband to keep your hair off your forehead and remember to wash your hair regularly. Bacteria is a major cause of acne, so to learn how to clear acne, you need to use cleaners that are antibacterial in nature. Benzoyl peroxide is something that has worked well for many people.

Keep in mind that when you first start to use certain acne medications, that your skin will more than likely break out worse than before, as pimples that weren’t visible under the skin are brought to the surface. This is normal, and you have to give the medication at least one to two weeks to work the best. Don’t give up! Although it is frustrating, the medicine will work over time. If you try everything over the counter and still have no results, then a doctor may need to be seen, as they can show you how to clear acne using antibiotics that are mild in nature.

Always drink plenty of water every day as well. Water is a natural way to cleanse the body of harmful substances like bacteria and excess oil. This is also a great way to have healthy skin all over, and is necessary for your body to do its job as well.

Many people that are looking for how to clear acne have seen good results with the use of Bentonite Clay. This is a natural mineral powder that is good for absorbing impurities and also for absorbing excess skin oil. You can find it for sale online, and simply mix with a little water, make a paste, allow it to dry, and wipe off.

A method that has become common in how to clear acne, is through the use of blue light therapy. It uses light to interact with skin bacteria to lower the amount of bacteria present on the skin and heal acne. Usually, this is done in a dermatologist’s offices, but it can be quite expensive and take a long time to see results.

Some other natural treatments that work well for people trying to find ways on how to clear acne, include applying sour cream to the face. Make sure your hair is back, and put it all over the skin, and after about fifteen minutes wash it off.

You will probably have to try several different methods until you discover the ones that work the very best for you. Give each one sufficient time to work, and don’t give up on one treatment too early. It could very well be the one that shows you how to clear acne for good.

Living through all of the various medications and procedures on how to treat acne can be a very disheartening experience.  With each new cream, oil or medication, you are expecting your face to instantly clear up and when it doesn’t, you wonder if anything will ever work.

New Treatments Underway

Research has come a long way in providing relief from acne and the scars that it can leave.  The Mayo Clinic has been working on various treatments for how to treat acne and have had some amazing results.  Since acne is based inside of the skin, then radiating out, laser and light therapy target the deepened layers of skin where bacterium first starts.  The Blue Light Therapy creates a low-density light that penetrates the skin, reaching the

Propionbacterium, or the P. acnes where the bacterium lives.  Not only good for slowing down the bacterium that causes acnes, this treatment is also beneficial in repairing scars that are left from acne.  Drawbacks from this new method on how to treat acne, is that several sessions are required and can leave the skin dry and red.

Laser and Combined Methods

A diode laser can penetrate deep into the skin and will kill sebaceous glands in the dermis with out harming the outer skin layers.  While helpful in the worst of cases, it can be quite expensive and so recent that most insurance companies will not cover the procedure. Pulsed light and heat energy, used together, has been approved by the FDA as an approved acne therapy and is used for mild to moderate acne.  A more acceptable procedure on how to treat acne, the pulse of a green-yellow light combined with heat shrinks the sebaceous glands, decreasing oil production.

Prescription Medications

Isotretinoin, more commonly known by the trade name Accutane, is 50% effective on moderate to severe acne.  A derivative of vitamin A, Accutane does the same thing as vitamin A when used in large doses.  How to treat acne with large doses of vitamin A or Accutane has to be carefully monitored by a physician because it can be harmful to tissues if not watched carefully.  Side effects include cracked and dry lips and liver dysfunction.  You should never use Accutane when pregnant as it has been proven to cause birth defects.

Retin-a is another prescription type of medication for how to treat acne.  Also a derivative of vitamin A, Retin-a is applied to the skin instead of taken orally as Accutane.  Having a different type of solution to preventing acne, the acne follicles are brought to the surface of the skin by unplugging acne follicles.  The patient will actually look worse before looking better with this type of drawing out but then it subsides.  Also known as Tretinoin, side effects include sensitivity to the sun, dryness, redness and swelling of the skin where applied.

How to Treat Acne with Oils

There are many over the counter products that offer hope for most acne sufferers.  Essential oils have had a long-standing reputation over many hundreds of years for treating skin ailments.  Lavender Oil, Tea Tree Oil, Bergamot Oil, Rosewood Oil and Clove Oil are some popular alternatives to creams that only possess antibacterial properties to keep the area clean and disinfected. 

The Best Over the Counter Cream

Proactiv cleanser has been around for quite some time and past users and reviewers claim that its program works the best for how to treat acne.  Following Proactiv’s three-step program with Cleanser, Revitalizing Toner and Repairing lotion can help to clear up acne by cleaning and protecting your face with a benzoyl peroxide mixture.  This is recommended by most physicians to try before subjecting yourself to more harsh drugs and treatments.

A Healthy Lifestyle

Most teenagers do not want to hear this but the most effective treatment for how to treat acne is through a healthy diet.  Acne is created from the inside out and an imbalance of the proper vitamins and minerals is the number one cause of the beginning of acne.  Lots of fresh fruit and vegetables and a decrease in the fast food and fries will benefit your skin and your body so you never have to worry about how to treat acne.