How To Get Clear Skin Quickly

Acne is a skin condition that many teenagers and adults find embarrassing. According to the "Doctor's Book of Home Remedies," approximately 80 percent of young men and women develop pimples, half of which are severe enough to require medical treatment. A proper skin care regimen coupled with medication helps many cases of acne, depending on the cause.

Step 1

Wash your skin with a gentle cleanser. Harsh chemicals and perfumes can aggravate the skin, particularly in people who are sensitive to them. According to the "Doctor's Book of Home Remedies," ingredients in soaps and cosmetics to avoid include oils, lanolins, isopropyl myristate, sodium lauryl sulfate, laurteth-4 and D & C red dyes. Women should choose makeup that is oil-free or noncomedogenic.

Step 2

Start with an over-the-counter acne treatment for mild to moderate acne. There are a few choices when it comes to topical acne medications. Benzoyl peroxide, resorcinol, salicylic acid and sulfur may come in the form of gel, lotion, soap, cream or toners. Give your treatment time to work. According to National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, it could take up to eight weeks to see improvement.

Step 3

Consider a natural treatment to manage your acne or supplement another treatment. According to MayoClinic.com, 5 percent tea tree oil preparations could be as effective as 5 percent benzoyl peroxide treatments, though tea tree oil may take longer to work. Zinc supplements may help with inflammation associated with acne. Glycolic acid may help with unclogging pores and removing dead skin cells.

Step 4

Talk to your doctor about treatment-resistant or severe acne. You may require a prescription treatment. Prescription treatments include antibiotics, retinoids or even injections. Birth control pills may be prescribed for women who have hormonal causes of acne. Isotretinoin is a prescription medication that is available for severe acne when conventional treatments have failed. Isotretinoin comes with a risk of serious side effects. The FDA has a mandatory program for women of childbearing age called iPLEDGE, due to the risk of birth defects.

Tips and Warnings

Use proper ultraviolet protection or minimize your exposure to the sun. Some acne medications can make your skin more sensitive to the sun. Excessive sun exposure can also worsen acne, even if it appears to dry it out at first.