How to Treat Acne

How to treat acne and which products you use will depend on the severity of your acne. Here I will outline a basic regimen you will need to follow tailored to how severe your acne is. Click here for product recommendations.

Facial Cleanser

You need to start every routine with a facial cleanser. It needs to be a good facial cleanser that clears away all the dirt, oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria. If you have dry or sensitive skin, try not to use a soap that is too harsh.

If you have moderate to severe acne and no dry skin, try to use something that is more cleansing. If you have this type of acne, chances are you have oily skin. No matter what type of acne you have, you should use an oil free cleanser. For severe acne, if you can find a cleanser with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide, use it.

Make sure you cover your entire face with the cleanser and follow the directions. Scrub your face in a circular motion. If you are using a cleanser at night after a day of wearing make-up, take extra care to remove it all. Don’t leave any traces of make-up behind!

Astringent or Toner

Next you will need an astringent or toner preferably that has salicylic acid. Salicylic acid is the active ingredient in most astringents. Use a cotton swab or pad to apply the astringent evenly across your face and neck. Be very careful around your eyes.

Give the astringent a couple of minutes to work before you move onto the next step.

Repairing/acne-fighting cream

The next step may only be necessary for those with moderate to severe acne. Choose a repairing cream or lotion that has benzoyl peroxide of at least 2.5%. If you’ve never used benzoyl peroxide before, test it on a small area of your skin to see if you have any reaction. If you do, discontinue use.

Apply the benzoyl treatment over your whole face, avoiding your eyes. Don’t rub it all in at once. Let it sit for a few minutes and then rub in the excess that hasn’t soaked in. If you have some bad acne spots, apply benzoyl cream of 10% to the individual areas.

Moisturizer

Those with less acne may have dry skin and will want a good moisturizer. Even if you don’t have dry skin, you will still want a good moisturizer. Just make sure it is oil free and will not clog your pores or become greasy.

In the morning, use a moisturizer that has an SPF of at least 15. Again, make sure it is light. In the evening, use a light cream. You may even want to skip this step if you have very oily skin and severe acne.

Scrubs, Masks, etc.

Scrubs are great for those with acne to be used occasionally or on a regular basis, depending on which scrub you use and your skin. They might not be a good idea if you have very red and tender skin because they take off the top layer of skin. Otherwise, they are great to really scrub your skin clean.

Masks especially for acne fighting are great as well. They can dry up pimples fast. Use them for about 15 to 30 minutes or overnight, depending on their instructions.

Try any or all of these treatments and learn how to treat acne.

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