Different Ways To Treat Acne

By Jo Wood  |   Submitted On February 07, 2007

  

Let's look at some different treatments which can be used in order to treat acne, including details on how they work and how they should be used.

1. Benzoyl Peroxide.

This is found in many of the over the counter acne medications that you can purchase and it helps kill the bacteria that makes acne worse. It helps to unplug oily pores and thus helps in the process of healing acne spots.

How to use it.

1. Start using it conservatively once a day. It is best to use a medication that contains 5% benzoyl peroxide in it (say after you have washed your face before going to bed).

2. Then after a few days increase your use to twice a day if you are not using any other medications.

3. However if your acne does not improve after 4 to 6 weeks then you will need to try a stronger solution. For example, a medication that contains 10%, which is now readily available over the counter without a doctor's prescription. You will need to ask the pharmacist what types contain this amount of benzoyl peroxide.

2. Retin-A

This is only available with a doctor's prescription and it acts by opening up blocked oil glands as well preventing new spots from forming.

How to use it.

1. This should only be used at night because it makes your skin more sensitive to the sun and therefore more susceptible to sunburn. It is therefore important that you use more sunscreen when you are outdoors.

2. You may find it takes between 2 to 3 months for you to see any improvement in your skin so be patient and just do as the doctor tells you and stick with the program.

3. For some women your doctor may prescribe birth control pills prior to starting you on a course of Retin-A treatment as it can be extremely dangerous to foetal development when a woman is pregnant.

3. Antibiotics

These can only be obtained via a prescription from your doctor and are particularly helpful for acne that is swollen and red, or for acne which is not improving when you have tried other medications. The antibiotics will kill the bacteria which helps to form the whiteheads on your skin.

When using antibiotics you should take note of the following:

1. Always follow the instructions given to you by your doctor and make sure you take them with plenty of water.

2. As some antibiotics may increase your skin's sensitivity to the sun, you will need to wear sunscreen when going outdoors.

Hopefully the information provided above will give you something to consider when looking at different ways to treat acne, if and when you happen to suffer from it.

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