Acne is a term that people use to talk about several different things, like blackheads, blemishes, pimples, and whiteheads. Although you always hear of teenagers facing the ravages of acne, it can cause problems for anyone. There are many various methods you can try for how to cure acne, here are some of them:

First, do not pop the pimples. This can actually make the redness worse, and your acne more noticeable, and it can also cause the infection to spread underneath the skin, making more pimples. If a pimple pops, clean it well with soap and water or rubbing alcohol right away to reduce the chance of infection.

When you clean your skin, especially your face, be sure to use soap that is mild, and is non-comedogenic. In addition, it is best if you stay away from sodium laureth sulfate as well. To remove dead skin cells, try gently exfoliating with cleaners that contain walnut shells, or things like salicylic acid, or glycolic acid. Be careful not to exfoliate too much, since this can irritate the skin, and make the production of acne worse.

Another method for how to cure acne, is with a good toner. It should either be wiped onto the face or sprayed, and then wiped off with a dry cotton ball. This will clear your skin of any leftover cleaners, and get rid of too much oil as well. Witch hazel is good, as is lemon juice, or 3% hydrogen peroxide for skin that is oily. If your skin is extremely oily, 70% ethyl rubbing alcohol can be used, but it is terribly drying, and shouldn’t be used with any other medications for acne.

Since bacteria on the skin is a reason for acne breakouts, then using a toner with antibacterial ingredients is a great choice. This will effectively kill the bacteria that cause acne, and help stop new pimples from forming. This is a something you can try when you are trying to discover how to cure acne.

Remember that the majority of treatments for acne take a certain amount of time to work fully. You may have to wait for two to six weeks before you see any real improvement, so patience is the key for how to cure acne. After you have found a solution for your acne, be sure to keep your routine up, so that it doesn’t come back on you full force again.

If you have tried everything out there, and nothing seems to work, it may be time to see your doctor for how to cure acne. There are antibiotics that can be prescribed to reduce the amount of acne you have. However, due to the fact that so many people have overused or misused antibiotics, they often get to the point where they no longer work.

If you can, keep your hair off your face. If you must have bangs, then be sure that you wash your hair regularly, and if your skin is overly oily, use oil-absorbing sheets to help remove extra oil. Also, remember to get a good night’s rest, and change your pillowcases every week.

Keep in  mind that most of the time, when you first start many acne medications, like benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, or sulfur, that your skin will actually break out worse than before for a time. This is because pimples that are under your skin and not visible are brought to the surface. It will take about two weeks for the medication to really have time to do its job.

If you see that over the counter medications aren’t working, see a dermatologist, since they know the most about the skin, and can give you medications that might work better for your individual skin type and problems. Also, drinking plenty of water is another great way to improve the look of your skin, since the body uses water to get rid of bad things in the body, like bacteria and oil.

There are also many nutrients that are natural acne fighters. Some of these you should be sure to get enough of are, zinc, vitamin E, Vitamin A, Selenium, and Chromium. If you do not eat enough in your daily diet, supplements can be of help for how to cure acne.

Try to remember to not touch your face, since your skin is loaded with oil, and when you touch your face, the oil is transferred to your face.

There are many various ways for how to cure acne, but trial and error will be the best determination of what works the best for you. Find a routine that works, and stick with it, and one day acne will be nothing but a distant memory.

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.