Acne Treatment

Acne Treatment for Mild Cases

Mild cases of acne can benefit hugely from daily washing with mild soap. While makeup in itself does not cause acne, acne sufferers should try to avoid using too much and should always remove all makeup at night with a cleanser.

Acne Treatment for Moderate Cases

Mild and moderate acne (white and blackheads and small spots) can be treated with a topical acne treatment. N.B. topical acne treatments are externally applied treatments.

There are many examples of such acne treatments, some of which are listed below:

Benzoyl Peroxide - This treatment is usually applied directly onto acne as a cream or gel. Initially it can cause some irritation but the skin will normally become tolerant to it after about a week. Of course some people are more sensitive to this acne treatment so it should be applied cautiously to begin with. As well as being an antibacterial acne treatment, Benzoyl Peroxide very subtly peels layers of skin away resulting in the pores being cleared and decreasing the ability of acne causing bacteria to multiply.
Retinoids – These are also a topical form of acne treatment derived from Vitamin A. They are generally only available via prescription as they are quite powerful and can have side effects. Retinoids (such as Tretinoin, Adapalene, Tazarotene and Isotrex) are considered the most effective treatment for acne but can increase skin sensitivity to the sun making sunburn a potential problem. They can also cause hair loss and should not be used by acne sufferers who are pregnant.

Acne Treatment for More Severe Cases

Oral Medication

This type of acne treatment may be necessary for sufferers whose acne is more pervasive and dense or in cases where the acne is swollen and/or painful. There are several types of oral acne treatment medication.

Oral Antibiotic Treatment – These work by attacking the bacteria that causes acne to flare up. Antibiotics are anti-inflammatory and particularly beneficial for postular acne sufferers. The downsides are that they usually require up to six-months of use and can cause users to suffer from nausea and thrush. Typical antibiotics used in acne treatment are: Tetracycline, Erythromycin, Minocycline, Doxycycline, and Clindamycin.
Isotretinoin – This is a derivation from Vitamin A which is extremely effective in sever cases of acne. Isotretinoin acne treatment reduces the production of skin oil (sebum) which helps to unblock the hair follicle. It also has anti-inflammatory properties which reduces swelling. It does not remain in the body after use; in fact all traces of it disappear after around a month of non-use. That said, there are some noted side effects while using Isotretinoin as an acne treatment. It can cause dry skin, sensitivity to the sun, general fatigue and muscle soreness and women in pregnancy should avoid using it.

Post Acne Treatment - Scarring

Treatment of acne scarring must occur only after the acne itself has been properly and definitively treated. Acne scar treatment will also vary according to whether the acne scars are raised or depressed. Treatment for raised scars can improve through steroid injections. For more problematic raised cystic acne scarring the best treatment might be surgical removal of the acne cyst itself. Depressed acne scars require removal down to the normal skin beneath them. If the scar is on its own or isolated then it may be surgically removed. If there is multiple depressed acne scarring, laser resurfacing, chemical abrasion and dermabrasion may be better solutions.

Acne Treatment Summary

The type and degree of acne that sufferers endure vary enormously. So too then does the type of acne treatment available according to the severity. It should also be noted that any acne treatment may also require focus on the psychological effects of that enduring acne causes to any acne sufferer.