Exposed Acne Treatment

There are a number of ways to treat exposed acne. On the market today are numerous medications and cleansers, and choosing one can be a nightmare. It is always important to research your options before you buy, and read what others are saying out there on the internet so you can make an informed choice. What works for others may or may not work for you, it all depends on a number of factors that could be unique to you.

Exposed acne is different than deep lesions or infections in that they are, well, exposed. This is the type of acne most of us experience as a teenager and have to deal with before going out on that all important date. It usually consists of pimples, blackheads and whiteheads, with the occasional cyst. If you have a light case of acne usually some simple washing and cleansing is effective. If you have a heavier breakout, more concentrated acne cleansers and perhaps even some acne medicines might be required.

Acne Cleansers

Using an acne cleanser after you wash is an important step in acne control. You can either buy one that is formulated for sensitive skin or not. Make sure that if you have sensitive skin to get one for your skin type. A good acne cleanser will remove makeup, built up oils, and any other dirt and debris clogging up your pores. Using an acne cleanser after washing is simply step 1 in any effective acne treatment. You can buy 4-1 cleansers, foaming cleansers, acne washes, the list is endless. Once again, make sure you do your research.

Acne Medications

There are a number of acne medicines you can use after you've thoroughly washed and cleansed. Some of the more common ones are benzoyl peroxide and alpha hydroxy acid. Benzoyl peroxide helps prevent the bacteria that lives in the oils on the skin, therefore reducing acne outbreaks. You should choose a cream with at least 2.5% benzoyl peroxide to be effective. Always use a gentle cotton pad for application. Alpha hydroxy acid can be used for slightly heavier cases of acne. It works best at 5-8% concentration. Alpha Hydroxy is a more concentrated approach to acne control than benzoyl peroxide, but can also irrate the skin a lot easier, so make sure you really require it before you use it.

Accutane

Using accutane can be the next step if cleansers and other acne medications are just not cutting it. Accutance is a pill, usually taken for 6-8 weeks, that works at the cellular level to change the way the body deals with its natural oils. It reduces oil production and also helps with the actual chemical makeup of the oil produced so it is less apt to clog up pores. It also has anti-inflammatory properties which helps, since all acne is inflamed. Accutane can have some serious side effects though, so this should be used after other forms of acne control have been attempted. Some of these are depression, joint pain, headaches, or more serious things like respiratory symptoms, inflammatory bowl disease, and vision problems. Be sure to consult a doctor before going down this road.

Acne Scarring

Sometimes a heavy case of acne will lead to scarring. If this happens, there are a number of medical treatments you can check into, including micro pigmentation, isolagen, subcision, scalpel excision, and skin needling. As usual, do some research online to find out about these options and always talk to your doctor or dermatologist before undertaking any acne treatments.

Natural Acne Control Methods

Probably the most important step in your acne treatment is to do all of the things that don't require any kind of medication that you can do to minimize a breakout in the first place.

• Wear light clothing whenever possible to avoid excessive sweating
• Don't wear tight clothing to avoid heavy fibers irritating your skin
• When you do sweat, wash as soon as possible and dry the area well, and put on fresh clothes
• Keep your hair clean and off of your face and neck
• Keep bed linens clean
• If you have bacne, avoid wearing heavy backpacks
• Drink plenty of water
• Avoid excessive junk foods and fatty foods
• When you do eat greasy foods, wash your hands afterwards
• Make sure to never stay constipated
• Try to minimize stress as much as you can
• Get regular exercise
  

If you follow some of the advice I've talked about here, you'll be well on your way to not only controlling your acne problems, but minimizing your breakouts and perhaps eliminating them from your life forever. Keep reading forums and researching different acne treatments on the internet. In your quest for a good exposed acne treatment you will learn all kinds of things that have worked for others, and just may be the thing you need to get rid of acne forever.