First of all, before we start talking about getting rid of acne we need to make two things clear: I'm not a doctor and acne is a fact of life, for the rest of your life. I'm not sure you can ever really get rid of acne. Even as an adult, I experience very mild episodes of acne and acne breakouts. Also, if you've come to this page expecting to find medical advice about how to get rid of acne, you're in the wrong place. Like I said, I'm not a doctor. Before following any of the tips found here on how to treat acne or how to control acne on, consult a dermatologist.
With all of that being said, let me assure you that I've done my research. The causes of acne are numerous, so are the various types of acne and acne issues. This article is meant to be an overview or a broad spectrum answer to the question: how do I get rid of acne? If you're interested in what I've found, read on. If there's a particular kind of acne problem you're looking to get rid of, there is a list of articles on acne in your left sidebar.
Getting Rid of Acne
Stop using oil-based makup, hair products, and similar cosmetic products if you want to get rid of acne. Oil build up on the skin is one of the primary causes of acne, so you will want to avoid getting any kind of oil on your skin. This includes mechanical oils and greases, as well as cooking oils. Many teenagers fail to follow this advice, eating fast foods which contain large amounts of oils, while continuing to apply oil-based cosmetic products. Diet and lifestyles may need to be changed in order to get rid of acne.
Avoid harsh soaps and facial scrubs if you want to get rid of acne faster. Many of these acne cleansing products claim to wipe away dirt and oils, while “gently” exfoliating your skin. So long as you avoid contact with oils that aren't produced by your body, you shouldn't need these products. They can irritate your skin, damage your subaceous glands, and cause even worse acne breakouts in the long-run. The fact of the matter is that your subaceous glands are producing oils because they're trying to protect your skin from being dry, cracked, and overly clean. Facial scrubs are not a good way to get rid of acne.
Taking showers regularly and washing your face with gentle soaps will help get rid of acne. While it is fortuitous to avoid contact with contaminants and synthetic oils (or oils that are foreign to your body), it is not always possible. Taking a shower once in the morning and once in the evening while help reduce acne breakouts. Remember, however, to use gentle soaps, not harsh soaps when you wash yourself. There are a couple of all natural soaps listed in the right sidebar that are recommended as natural acne treatments.
Don't pinch, prod, or poke your blemishes to get rid of acne. Many people choose to pinch out their whiteheads, pimples, and zits with their fingers. There are a few problems with this method. First, your fingers are covered with unnatural oils. Second, your fingers are covered with plenty of bacteria. Thirdly, you will probably damage your subaceous glands or create an impacted pimple which will cause more fluid build up and eventually an infected zit. Refer to the articles we've written on zits, whiteheads, and pimples for the appropriate ways to get rid of these types of acne issues.
Using a dermatologist recommended acne lotion will help you get rid of acne. Don't just grab a bottle of lotion that says it's dermatologist recommended; call or go see a dermatologist and ask them what lotion they would recommend. These lotions are different from soaps because they're specifically designed to breakdown oils, kill the bacteria that cause infected acne blemishes, and promote the sloughing (shedding for lack of a better synonym) of dead skin cells (the other primary cause of acne). The better lotions recommended to get rid of acne contain either sulfur, resorcinol, or salicylic acid.Medical Acne Treatments
The first line of medical treatments for acne are mild acne lotions containing retinoic acid (sold commercially as Retin-A) which you've probably heard of, as well as adapalene (sold commercially as Differin). These products are vitamin-a extracts or synthetics, and they work by, again, promoting the sloughing of dead skin cells. These are usually combined with a mild antibiotic cream to help control moderate to severe cases of acne.
Stronger antibiotics can be used to control bacterial growth and acne infections in more severe cases, but as the use of antibiotics in everyday medicine comes under more scrutiny by non-profit health organizations, dermatologists are being persuaded to use drugs like Accutane. While Accutane is an effective treatment for cystic acne or acne severe enough to cause scarring, it has a number of undesirable side-effects. You should ask your doctor about these side-effects before taking Accutane, because they can be as severe as causing depression and rectal bleeding. That's not a pretty picture, is it?
There is one alternative for women, and that's the use of certain oral contraceptives. This is likely caused by the manipulation of certain hormones, so you'll want to consider the side-effects of such drugs as well before accepting a prescription. Other than these drugs, there are surgical procedures available to help reduce acne scars, but these are usually considered last resort treatments for acne.
