The Secrets To Successful Acne Treatment

For the most part home treatments works perfectly satisfactorily for blackheads and whiteheads. Most drug stores will be able to provide you with suitable creams that will begin to deal with them. These treatments normally contain benzoyl peroxide which sounds as if it should bleach your hair! The important point is to persist with a sensible regime. It might also be wise to assess your diet.

The following suggestions have been proved to help:

1. Try not to become paranoid about keeping the inflamed areas spotless. Washing when you get up and again at bedtime is more than enough.

2. When washing use soap and water and be gentle with yourself. Scrubbing won't help and is likely to do more harm than good.

3. The temptation to squeeze blackheads and spots can be overpowering but resist if for all you are worth! It will make matters worse.

4. Some cosmetics can be quite oily and it is better to avoid these. It's always a safe bet to opt for those based on water.

5. Always go to bed having removed all your make up.

6. Some people have dry skin which might seem at odds with also suffering from acne which is generally the result of too much oil in the skin. Nevertheless use only a water based emollient to help here.

7. Try to exercise often. This will improve your circulation and make you feel better. Shower or bath afterwards so that the sweat doesn't dry on your body and cause further irritation to your acne.

8. Maintain your hair and keep it clean and off your face.

Impatience in these matters is understandable but treatments generally take three to four months to work. For more severe cases it might take longer. Consult you doctor for the best advice.

Typical prescription acne treatments are:-

Azelaic Acid

Topical Anti-biotics

Topical Retinoids

Antibiotic Tablets

Where there is a lot of pain and wider body coverage it might be necessary to see both a dermatologist and a nutritionist. In very bad cases of acne infection a doctor might use treatments in combination. For women it can sometimes help to have some form of hormone therapy.Of course you want the medications to work in days but the reality is it will take a few months. Just hang in there and keep applying the treatment and medication.

With regard to diet it is sensible to reduce the intake of foods which contain high levels of oil and fat. There is no need to do without these completely but you should eat them only occasionally rather that daily. Consume instead the foods that act as cleansers such as greens - particularly lettuce - and lots of fiber rich foods. There is no shortage of advice about this on the Internet so a little bit of focussed research will reap a great reward.

Don't lose heart either. It is very easy to look in the mirror every morning and allow what you see to drive you to the depths of despair. But that would be wrong. There is always hope and even a trip to the drug store to have a chat with the pharmacist will encourage you. These things can be overcome.