Treatment helps heal existing lesions, stop new lesions from forming and prevent scarring. Medicines can reduce several problems that play a part in causing acne, including abnormal clumping of cells in the follicles, increased oil production, bacteria and inflammation. A doctor may recommend over-the-counter or prescription medicines to take in a pill or apply to the skin.
Some over-the-counter topical medicines, which are applied to the skin, include:
- Benzoyl peroxide, which kills bacteria and may also reduce oil production.
- Resorcinol, which can help break down blackheads and whiteheads.
- Salicylic acid, which helps break down blackheads and whiteheads and also helps reduce the shedding of cells lining the hair follicles.
- Sulfur, which helps break down blackheads and whiteheads.
Topical medicines come in many forms, including gels, lotions, creams, soaps and pads. In some people, topical medicines may cause side effects such as skin irritation, burning or redness, which often get better or go away with continued use. If you have severe or prolonged side effects, you should report them to your doctor. Over-the-counter topical medicines are somewhat effective in treating acne when used regularly, but it may take up to eight weeks before you see noticeable improvement.
Several types of prescription medicines include:
- Antibiotics, which help slow or stop the growth of bacteria and reduce inflammation.
- Vitamin A derivatives, or retinoids, which unplug existing comedones, allowing other medicines, such as antibiotics, to enter the follicles. Some may also help decrease the formation of comedones.
- Other medicines may destroy bacteria, reduce oil production or reduce inflammation.
Diagnosing and treating acne may involve you and several types of health professionals, including:
- General or family physicians.
- Dermatologists, who specialize in treating skin problems.
- Internists, who specialize in the diagnosis and medical treatment of adults.
- Pediatricians, who diagnose and treat children.
If you have acne, you may want to follow some of these recommendations for taking care of your skin.
- Clean your skin gently. Use a mild cleanser in the morning, in the evening and after heavy exercise. Do not use strong soaps or rough scrub pads. Only use astringents if the skin is very oily, and then only on oily spots.
- Shampoo your hair regularly. If you have oily hair, you may want to wash it every day.
- Avoid rubbing and touching skin lesions. Squeezing or picking blemishes can cause scars or dark blotches to develop.
- Shave carefully. Make sure the blade is sharp, and soften the hair with soap and water before applying shaving cream. Shave gently and only when necessary to reduce the risk of nicking blemishes.
- Avoid sunburn and suntan. Many of the medicines used to treat acne can make you more prone to sunburn.
- Choose cosmetics carefully. All cosmetics and hair-care products should be oil free. Choose products labeled noncomedogenic, which means they don’t clog pores. In some people, however, even these products may make acne worse.
Some things can make acne worse. These include:
- Changing hormone levels in teen girls and adult women two to seven days before their menstrual periods start.
- Oil from skin products (moisturizers or cosmetics) or grease in the work environment (such as a kitchen with fry vats).
- Pressure from sports helmets, tight clothes or backpacks.
- Environmental irritants, such as pollution and high humidity.
- Squeezing or picking at blemishes.
- Scrubbing your skin too hard.
- Stress.
For most people, acne tends to go away by the time they reach their thirties, but some people in their forties and fifties continue to have this skin problem.