Acne Treatment Information

First of all, there is no acne cure. There are only acne treatments that are available to prevent the symptoms of the disease, the acne blemishes.
Do not despair- there are tons of good treatments for acne! I believe that virtually any sufferer can find the right therapy for them. However, I do not believe that there is one treatment that will work for everyone. Most people will be forced to try many acne products and remedies before they will discover a combination that works.

Don’t give up!

Here is some practical advice for beginning acne treatment:

1. See a dermatologist. Although this may seem like common sense, it can be very difficult for some people to face the dermatologist. I wouldn’t go for years because I was ashamed of the way I looked and I didn’t want anyone to see the way my skin looked without makeup. I especially didn’t want to have someone inspecting it! But, you have to realize that your acne is a disease and must be treated. It is not disgusting and it is not your fault that you have it. Most importantly, you don’t deserve to have it. So do yourself a favor and get to the dermatologist as soon as you can.

Whatever medication the dermatologist prescribes (for more information see prescription acne treatment), you should start to see result within 6 to 8 weeks. In other words, don’t give up if you don’t see an immediate improvement in your skin- it will take some time to dissolve the clogs that are already in your pores. However, if you do not see a significant improvement after this time you should tell your doctor and ask them to try something else.

2. Start a skin care regimen. Take care of your skin everyday, morning and night, with a multi-therapy approach (for more information see The Multi-Therapy approach). This means washing, toning and applying a medicated cream to the effected area. You should also use an acne treatment mask once a week. This can be done by buying a kit (such as Proactiv, which I recommend) or you can buy each product separately from the drug store.
* Make sure that any product you use does not contain hidden comedogenic ingredients, as many do.

3. Start a diet that does not stress your body. This means eating more whole grains, vegetables, fruits and beans. Try to limit alcohol, caffeine, sugar and other processed foods.

4. Use ice to reduce swelling.

5. Exercise.

6. Try stress reduction techniques. Meditation, yoga and deep breathing can be very helpful to some people who are under a lot of stress.

7. Don’t give up! I know I say this a lot, but it is very important. Just because one treatment doesn’t work for you does not mean your acne is untreatable. Also, don’t give up on a treatment if it doesn’t work right away, it can take several months to see real results. Try to think positively, it will help a lot.

8. Don’t stop treatment because you are peeling- some dermatologists believe that it is essential that your skin peels in order for you to heal.