Prior to getting rid of your acne you really need to know what you are up against. This means understanding what acne is and also understanding that you are not alone in your affliction.
Understanding what acne is is pretty simple. It is a bacterial infection of the pores in your skin and hair follicles caused primarily by excess oil clogging those pores. The excess oil can be caused by hormonal changes, stress, lack of sleep, poor diet and other factors. It is most common in teenagers, however adults are certainly not exempt from acne. It is characterized by blackheads and whiteheads and more commonly by redness and swelling commonly called pimples or zits. These can appear anywhere on the upper body from the scalp to the face, neck, chest or back.
Many people have mild to moderate cases of acne that can be treated with over the counter medication, changes in diet or a routine of daily cleansing. However, when acne becomes more severe it is recommended that you check with a doctor to find the best treatment options for your problem.
The primary reason for suggesting a doctor is that they have seen many different patients and have vast experience dealing with acne. For the typical person treating acne can be overwhelming due to the large number of different treatments that are now available. It’s not uncommon for people to jump from one “cure” to the next without giving enough time for each to work which leads to frustration and possibly even worse acne.
Here are some basic tips for dealing with your acne. These are all safe and can be attempted before consulting a dermatologist.
- Never ever pop your pimples or squeeze blackheads. This will only serve to further irritate your skin, spread the current infection and lead to permanent scarring. Keep your fingers off your face.
- Wash frequently, up to two or three times a day to keep dirt, oil and dead skin at bay. Using a gentle cleanser such as Dove or Ivory soap (or other similar gentle cleansers) is best to keep from further irritating your skin. You should also be gentle when washing and avoid the use of abrasive scrubbing as this will also irritate the skin and can also spread the infection.
- Try the over the counter products containing benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid to fight mild acne. Both of these ingredients can work well to get rid of acne, however they can also be too harsh for some people so use with caution. Initially the acne may get worse, but if you don’t see improvement after a week discontinue using the product and try something else. There are also many home remedies that can be tried.
- When nothing else is working consult with a dermatologist to get a specialized opinion.
Getting rid of acne doesn’t have to be impossible. Basic hygiene works for many and when that fails dermatologists have a host of other options at their disposal. Prevention is often the best cure so give these preventative skin care steps a try first, you may be surprised when you see your pimples begin to disappear.