Whether mild or severe, acne is a source of agony for many people, especially teenagers and young adults. Also, it can occur at any age. Although acne is not dangerous, it can leave you with ugly spots on your skin. This has made the search for the best acne treatment to be urgent and something sort of beauty holy grail. If you feel you have tried almost every kind of treatment to get rid of your acne but getting disappointments or unsatisfactory results, you still don’t have to despair about this common skin problem. You perhaps need to make some adjustments to your skincare routines and get serious with your dermatologist’s visits.
Defining Acne
So, what is Acne? Well, it is a severe inflammatory skin condition whereby hair follicles plug with oil and dead skin cells, causing uninflamed blackheads, pus-filled pimples, bumps, etc. Acne will mostly be on the face, shoulders, back, neck, and chest area, as well as the upper arms. Also, acne can present in various forms, including blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, nodules, and cysts.
Some of the common causes of acne include but are not limited to, someone’s genetics, menstrual cycles, climates that are hot and humid, stress, and anxiety. It could also stem from squeezing your pimples or using oil-based makeup products, among other reasons. The good thing is that acne is treatable. With this having been said, let’s now talk about acne treatment and how to tell if your acne treatment is worthwhile.
Acne Treatment
The treatment of acne depends on how severe and persistent it is, and it varies from one person’s condition to another. However, a regular visit to a reputable dermatologist is a wise idea. Moreover, ensuring that you are using quality skincare products is also not something to debate about. As a matter of fact, skincare products specifically developed for treating acne are also available. According to a review at https://www.facingacne.com/exposed-skin-care-review/, these products delivered impressive results in most users within the first 30 days. It is said to combine science with natural ingredients to clean the skin of acne patients.
As an acne patient, it is always important to be cautious when trying a new treatment therapy as different therapies may come with different effects. Nonetheless, we insist on working closely with a certified dermatologist for the best results. The best conventional acne treatments inhibit sebum production, limiting bacteria growth, and unclogging the skin pores.
How Fast are the Results?
Your acne treatment may require at least 4 weeks before it starts working. It may seem logical to try different treatment products every few days but ideally, this could be worsening your acne problem, causing even more skin irritation and breakouts. Acne treatment will always need enough time to work. For acne treatments that are working, you are supposed to see improvement within 4 to 6 weeks of treatment – and full clearing will be visible within 2 to three months or even longer. So, the point here is acne treatments should be given plenty of time and are not supposed to be rushed.
Mild Acne Treatments
Mild acne is the easiest type of acne to treat. This skin problem is referred to as having minor skin breakouts now and then. In most people, mild acne occurs on secluded parts of their face and body such as the nose, chin, forehead, and shoulders, with little inflammation. A mild acne patient will have papules and whiteheads, as well as blackheads.
The mild acne skin condition can be treated using over-the-counter acne treatment products sourced from local drug stores near you. However, seek to ensure that the treatment products you are using contain benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, or OTC Differin. These are the most common OTC mild acne treatment ingredients known to science. Also, you must follow the usage directions correctly and consistently for 10 to 12 weeks to start seeing improvements. If you are not identifying the kind of results you want even after being patient with the process, then it is time to consult a dermatologist.
Although mild acne can be very upsetting especially to teens, the good news is that they respond very well to drugstore acne treatment products. Some changes you may need to make while treating mild acne may include:
- Dietary changes – By eliminating high-carb and sugary foods may help in lowering the rate of acne-causing androgens. Also, the secretion of sebum is minimized. Therefore, as a mild acne patient, you will have to make different food choices.
- Stress reduction – Increased stress levels are also associated with mild acne problems. Therefore, indulging in stress reduction activities can be a great remedy. Some of these activities may include meditation, yoga, watching funny movies more often, etc.
Treating Moderate to Severe Acne
To begin with, if your acne condition is more severe, it is best to seek specialized treatment from a skin expert or a dermatologist. From their expertise and experience, they may prescribe a cream, gel, or oral or topical antibiotic that is special and stronger than the normal OTC from drug stores. Other helpful measures include:
- Getting a corticosteroid injection – An acne cyst may become severely inflamed hence rupturing. A skin expert will treat an inflamed acne cyst by injecting it with a diluted corticosteroid to prevent scarring, reduce inflammation, and also speeding up the healing process.
- Getting the right oral antibiotics – If you have moderate to severe acne conditions, your skin expert may prescribe some oral antibiotics for up to 6 months. This lowers the population of P. acnes. The commonly prescribed antibiotics are Erythromycin and tetracycline.
- Oral contraceptive/ Hormonal treatments – These are prescribed to women as a long-term acne treatment. They help control acne by suppressing the overactive gland. Also, if you are a woman and you have a blood clotting disorder, smoke, over 35 years old, or have a history of migraines, oral contraceptives may be suitable for you. However, seek to check with your gynecologist.
- Treatment using topical antimicrobials – This treatment aims at reducing P. acne for moderate to severe acne patients. Examples include clindamycin and sodium sulfacetamide. Your dermatologist may also prescribe a topical retinoid for unclogging the poles as well as preventing the development of whiteheads and blackheads.
Acne can be a real pain to anyone’s beauty and self-confidence. This is especially if it is permanently visible or keeps coming back. The above few pointers could be helpful when seeking an effective treatment for your acne skin problem.