Ideas for Acne Control
Nobody, in the entire history of mankind, has ever spoken the words ‘I wish I had acne’ or ‘I wish my acne was worse.’ Having problem acne is no fun at all! Unfortunately, most people will suffer some degree of acne at some point in their life and it isn't limited to the teenage years either.
It’s not all that uncommon for adults into their thirties and forties to have mild to moderate acne.
The good news is that acne is not contagious, but that is about the only good news. Anyone who has acne wants to know how to get rid of acne. It’s a question that has been asked for a long time and there are actually some pretty decent answers for dealing with a breakout every now and then to treating severe acne. Here are a few popular, and not so popular, answers to the question of how to get rid of acne.
Dermatologists and/or Family Doctors
Those who suffer from severe acne are most likely to use a doctor to treat it. Antibiotics like tetracycline and erythromycin have proven effective for treating and preventing acne for many. It is a cost effective method if it works for you. One downside to using antibiotics is the body builds a tolerance to the drug over time so you will likely have to switch medicines at least once and/or increase the dose. Most doctors are reluctant to prescribe a long term (longer than 45 – 60 days) course of antibiotics for acne. A dermatologist will typically be more expensive, but they have a detailed knowledge of medicines and procedures that have proven effective for treating severe acne.
Over the Counter Medication
There is a wide variety of soaps, astringents, creams and scrubs available to treat mild to moderate acne. Most of these products are designed to prevent future breakouts and don’t do much to treat existing blemishes. Some creams do have up to 10% benzoyl peroxide to treat blemishes but it, along with many other over the counter treatments; can result in dry and irritated skin with prolonged use. Many have found switching between products with different active ingredients periodically, e.g., switching from benzoyl peroxide to salicylic acid or vice versa, to be effective.
Home Remedies
Here is where things can get interesting. It seems there as many home remedies for acne as there are people suffering from acne. Some of the most popular include:
• Black Walnut – supposedly good for any skin condition
• Lemon Juice
• Cabbage – both externally applied and eaten
• Tanning Bed – adults only
• Baking Soda Toothpaste – some people swear by it
Those are just a few examples. There are others that seem downright crazy so use your head before you use any home remedy.
If you’re among the many wondering how to get rid of acne, any or all of these ideas are worth a shot – right?
