Acne is a common problem that affects adults as well as teenagers. The American Academy of Dermatology estimates that 40 million to 50 million Americans per year suffer from acne. It also estimates that 85 percent of American teenagers will suffer from acne within a year. Unfortunately, there's no overnight cure, but there are some effective ways to get rid of acne.
Daily Regimen
A daily skin treatment regimen is a way to eliminate acne. Wash your skin with a mild soap no more than twice daily. Washing more than twice per day can irritate the acne. When washing, use your fingers to massage the soap into the skin, and pat your skin dry. Acne.org recommends applying a generous amount of an acne treatment containing 2.5 percent benzoyl peroxide.
Use Oil-Free Products
Sunscreen is recommended to aid in preventing sun damage to the skin, and many people apply moisturizers to their skin as part of their daily regimen. When using such products, look for products that are oil-free. This will help prevent more pores from being clogged and enable those that are to heal. If make-up must be worn, use oil-free bases and wash it off before going to bed.
Clean Environment
Keeping a clean environment around acne-prone skin speeds up the healing process. Keep longer hair pulled back to avoid transferring hair's natural oils and added styling products to acne prone skin. Wear clean, breathable clothing, such as clothing made of cotton, to allow skin to breathe and sweat to evaporate from the skin. Wash sheets and pillow cases at least once per week to eliminate deposited oils and dirt from the skin.
Prescription Treatments
If a daily skin regimen isn't helping heal the acne, a dermatologist can assist in prescribing a treatment plan specifically for you. Treatments often start with prescription-strength topical treatments combined with oral antibiotics. The antibiotics help kill the bacteria in the skin, which cause acne from the inside out, while the topical treatments work to achieve the same goal from the outside. Readers of Acne.org give their highest ratings to azelaic acid and sodium sulfacetamide for prescription topical treatments and Bactrim and Septra for oral antibiotics.
Member Comments