Whether you are a teen or an adult, acne covered or blemished skin can be a real pain, weighing on your self confidence and your quality of life. However there are numerous great ways to treat it in the comfort of your own home, on the shelves of the pharmacy, and in the doctor's office. Below are a few of the most important things you can do to treat of your acne and keep it away.
Wash your skin gently. Keeping your skin clean is one of the most important aspects of healthy skin. You can use a wash or scrub, but just be gentle.
Moisturize. Keeping your skin moisturized is equally important. Look for moisturizers that are noncomedogenic (non acne forming).
Avoid using heavy makeup. While you may be tempted to use extra makeup to cover up acne breakouts, it can actually end up clogging your pores and making the breakout worse. If you must, use foundation that is oil free and noncomedogenic.
Try over-the-counter remedies, as long as they aren’t harsh or overly intensive. Excellent acne kits are available online or in your favorite pharmacy.
See a dermatologist. If your acne starts to get out of control, see a dermatologist to avoid scarring. A dermatologist will assess your acne, the causes, and can recommend treatments.
Be patient with treatment. Some people become frustrated when their acne treatments fail to work immediately. However, most effective treatments take several weeks to start working.
Use medicines as prescribed. Don’t adjust your own doses if your medicine doesn’t seem to be working -- this is more likely to cause extra problems than it is to have a positive effect. Continue using the medication after your acne has cleared up to make sure it doesn’t come back.
Don’t pick at or pop zits. This can only cause scarring and further infection.