Acute acne refers to the rapid onset of an acne breakout. Acne occurs when bacteria, dead skin cells and oil clog hair follicles and cause inflammation. The most common types of acne, which typically appear on the face, back, shoulders and chest, are whiteheads, blackheads, papules and pustules. With daily cleansing, use of topical medication and following certain skincare procedures, you can quickly clear your skin and prevent new breakouts from suddenly appearing.
Step 1
Wash your skin twice a day. Use a gentle, foaming cleanser and tepid water. Be sure to wash areas especially prone to breakouts including the hairline, face, back, shoulders and chest. The American Academy of Dermatology says that keeping your skin clean will help wash away dead skin cells and oil produced by the sebaceous glands.
Step 2
Apply a thin film of benzoyl peroxide over the areas of you skin where you typically experience sudden breakouts. Your sebaceous glands could be overly active in these areas. The Mayo Clinic explains that benzoyl peroxide kills the bacteria that cause acne.
Step 3
Spot-treat new pimples with an alpha hydroxy acid. Use lactic or glycolic acid when you sense a new blemish is forming. Daniel Kern, founder of Acne.org, explains that an AHA can stop new acne in its tracks.
Step 4
Wash your skin with an exfoliator containing salicylic acid two or three times a week. An exfoliator is an abrasive agent that will slough off dead skin cells. Salicylic acid will get into the hair follicle and prevent skin cells from shedding too quickly. A cleanser with both of these ingredients can help quickly clear existing breakouts and prevent new ones from forming. According to the Acne Resource Center, using two different topical acne medications helps clear breakouts better than only using one medication.
Step 5
Talk to your doctor about taking a prescription medication that will preempt acute acne. An oral contraceptive can control the hormones that cause sebaceous glands to become over-productive. An oral antibiotic kills the bacteria that cause acne. For severe breakouts, isotretinoin works by minimizing sebum output by the sebaceous glands.
Tips and Warnings
- Scrubbing your skin aggressively can cause irritation and does not clear breakouts.
- Popping, squeezing and picking pimples can cause permanent scarring.
Things You'll Need
- Soap
- Benzoyl peroxide
- Alpha hydroxy acid
- Exfoliator with salicylic acid
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