According to the American Academy of Dermatology, acne is one of the most common skin conditions, affecting up to 50 million Americans. The Cleveland Clinic reports that acne often forms when bacteria, fatty acids and oil produced by the sebaceous glands are in abundance on the skin's surface. Acne usually occurs on the face, back, chest and shoulders. When you're first starting an acne-treatment routine, it may take several weeks before you start seeing results. Staying on top of your regimen, however, will not only clear pimples quickly, but it will prevent them from forming in the first place.
Step 1
Wash your face first thing in the morning. Cleaning your skin with a gentle soap can reduce the production of sebum for about four hours.
Step 2
Apply a 2.5 percent benzoyl peroxide to your skin. Cover the entire area that breaks out, not just each individual pimple. You can apply benzoyl peroxide up to twice a day.
Step 3
Apply 10 percent alpha hydroxy acid to individual pimples. Daniel Kern of the Acne website says that an AHA, like lactic acid or glycolic acid, will stop a zit in its tracks. They work by removing the top layer of skin, which is a combination of dried oil and dead skin cells.
Step 4
Exfoliate your skin about two or three times a week. An exfoliating cleanser will help wash away dead skin cells and loosen debris in hair follicles, where pimples form. Choose a product that contains salicylic acid, which works by getting into the hair follicle and helping dead cells to shed.
Step 5
Wash your skin again at night. The AAD recommends cleansing your acne-prone skin twice a day. Excessive washing could cause irritation and drying and will not prevent or cure your breakouts.
Tips and Warnings
- Avoid makeup and skincare products in cake form, including pressed foundation and blush, according to the Cleveland Clinic. These products are more likely to cause breakouts. If your acne is moderate to severe and difficult to treat, talk to your doctor about using a prescription, topical antibiotic like erythromycin and clindamycin. Antibiotics help decrease the amount of bacteria in the skin.
- If you only treat your acne when you have breakouts, you're less like to prevent pimples from forming. Emotional stress can worsen acne, according to the AAD. Stress-reduction techniques could improve the appearance of your skin.
Things You'll Need
- Benzoyl peroxide, 2.5 percent solution
- Alpha hydroxy acid, 10 percent solution
- Exfoliator with salicylic acid
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