Treatment For Non-inflammatory Acne

Acne affects almost every teenager--almost nine out of every 10 teens can expect to see at least a few whiteheads or blackheads every year, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Severe acne involving inflammation requires quick, aggressive intervention by a dermatologist to prevent scars from forming. But if you have non-inflammatory acne, you have many treatment options, both from your dermatologist and available over-the-counter.

Causes

Pimples form when your skin's sebaceous glands make too much oil, according to the Mayo Clinic. This oil, known as sebum, can clog your pores. Bacteria often proliferate in the oily pores behind these blockages, which causes pimples to form and sometimes erupt. Non-inflammatory acne involves mainly whiteheads and blackheads, with few actual pimples and little or no inflammation and infection.

Over-the-Counter Solutions

You can treat many cases of non-inflammatory acne successfully with over-the-counter medications, according to the AAD. Products containing the acne-fighting ingredient benzoyl peroxide can clear pores and be very effective in curbing the bacteria that contribute to acne lesion formation. Products with the active ingredient salicylic acid help stop the skin from shedding too many dead skin cells, which helps prevent additional pore blockages from forming. Check with your dermatologist before combining any over-the-counter acne products, however, because some combinations can cause skin irritation.

Prescription Treatments

If your non-inflammatory acne doesn't respond to over-the-counter acne products, your next step likely will involve a visit to your dermatologist. Dermatologists can prescribe a variety of acne medications that clear non-inflammatory acne, according to the AAD. Tretinoin, often referred to by the brand-name version Retin-A, can clear blocked pores and stop new blockages from forming, eliminating blackheads and whiteheads. Other medications that can clear pores include adapalene and tazarotene, both synthetic versions of vitamin A that curb abnormal skin cell shedding.

Procedures

Dermatologists often use light chemical peels to loosen the blockages in pores that cause blackheads and whiteheads, according to the AAD. In addition, some patients undergo blue LED light therapy to curb their mild acne, although the AAD warns that this type of treatment targets bacteria and inflammation, and so likely won't clear non-inflammatory acne involving mostly whiteheads and blackheads.

Considerations

If you're being treated by a dermatologist, you should use your acne prescription products exactly as prescribed to achieve the best results, according to the AAD. In addition, picking at whiteheads and blackheads can introduce infection and may make them worse. The AAD recommends avoiding abrasive skin products and instead using a mild cleanser once or twice a day to control your non-inflammatory acne and prevent new breakouts.