Which Acne Treatments Work?

Acne is tough to deal with, no matter the age of the sufferer. There are a variety of things that can make acne worse (like stress, certain facial cleansers, and even specific foods), but it can hard to figure out what to do to make it better.

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.

Mild acne treatment is usually fairly simple. Mild acne is usually defined as having just a cluster of blackheads or whiteheads or a smattering of pimples. The treatment is usually mild soap followed by an effective topical treatment like benzoyl peroxide or a product that contains salicylic acid. If these treatments don't work, a doctor can usually prescribe a slightly more intense lotion that will work for the mild acne symptoms.

Moderate to severe acne is harder to deal with. The treatment usually involves deeper and more intense products specially designed for acne; this kind of acne might include nodules or cysts and that could leave scars over time. For people with this kind acne, a doctor might first prescribe oral antibiotics, which can kick start the healing process.

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 that might be prescribed for moderate or severe acne include prescription gels, creams and lotions which contain antibiotics, and prescription retinoids that are applied via a lotion. Some other treatments include taking oral retinoids, the most common of which is Accutane. Sometimes a doctor will treat severe acne by draining cysts and pimples, or having the patient apply azelaic acid.

It's important to know that some treatments might take several weeks (from six to eight) to work and some might even make the acne worse before it gets better. Other treatments might include a change in diet (though, contrary to popular belief, chocolate and greasy foods do not cause acne), a change in hair products or skin products and even an avoidance of the sun, which is often found to help reduce the severity of acne.

Acne is hard to live with, but it's not impossible to treat. Finding the right treatment is most of the battle.