Acne doesn’t just stop after the teenage years. For many of us, it just keeps on coming. Maybe a little less than when we were in junior high and high school, but it still occurs. What is even worse is that it is less common in adults, so if you are still on the receiving end of acne, then it seems to stand out and be more noticeable than before. The psychological damage is even worse than the acne itself. Not feeling like leaving the house because of skin problems is something that no one should face.
The good news is there is a solution! Actually, there are many possible solutions. If one treatment for acne is not working, then move onto another one. Don’t wait and think your acne will be going away on its own. Most times, it does not matter if you wash your face ten times a day with soap and water. It’s time to begin a treatment that has been scientifically proven to work.
Visit a Dermatologist
It’s amazing that someone will spend hundreds of dollars on over-the-counter acne treatments, but will not visit an actual dermatologist. Discussing acne with a doctor is nothing to be embarrassed about. They have heard and seen it all. Also, they can prescribe you oral medication and topical medication that is not available without a prescription. One trip to the dermatologist will provide you the hope of an acne-free future!
Try Changing Your Diet
Studies have shown that your diet can affect your acne more than originally thought. If you are consuming food that is rich in dairy and carbohydrates, and you are having acne issues, then you might have found the culprit. Also, staying away from fried foods wouldn’t hurt either.
Meanwhile, there are also foods that can help you with your acne. Avocados are high in vitamin E and C, which will reduce inflammation and moisturize the skin. Vegetables, fruit, and meat (the caveman diet) should be the main staples of your diet if you are battling acne. Give it a six week trial run and see if it reduces the amount of breakouts.
Over-the-Counter Topicals
If your acne is not that severe, you could get clear skin just by trying a few over-the-counter topicals that you can buy at almost any store. The two most common topicals are benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid.
Benzoyl peroxide can be bought in strengths ranging from 2.5 to 10 percent. This topical kills the bacteria that causes acne, reduces the amount of oil on your skin, and removes dead skin cells. Salicylic acid is available in strengths from 0.5 to 5 percent. It will help prevent your pores from becoming plugged. Both topicals can dry your skin, so don’t go overboard on using them until you know you can stand the side effects.
Light Treatment
Light treatments are receiving good results for fighting acne in many dermatologist offices across the globe. Everyone knows that tanning beds have been used to battle acne in the past. It dries out and darkens the skin so acne is less visible. However, tanning is just a temporary fix and can result in acne scarring becoming more visible. Or even worse, tanning too much can give you skin cancer.
With light therapy in the dermatologist office, the special light penetrates through skin layers and will help kill acne producing bacteria and excess sebum (the oil on your skin). The intense pulsed light (IPL) acne therapy has low side effects and can be quite affordable. A comprehensive IPL treatment to restore the acne-prone skin is perhaps your best bet. Since light therapy alone will not usually clear acne, a comprehensive treatment of light therapy, topicals, and orals could work together to clear your skin the best!