Prevention (1)
- Over-the-counter acne products: What works and why
Treatments and drugs (3)
- Laser resurfacing
- Acne treatments: Emerging therapies for clearer skin
- Over-the-counter acne products: What works and why
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Acne treatments: Emerging therapies for clearer skin
Cosmetic procedures
Chemical peels and microdermabrasion may be helpful in controlling acne. These cosmetic procedures — which have traditionally been used to lessen the appearance of fine lines, sun damage and minor facial scars — are most effective when used in combination with other acne treatments.
- Chemical peels. Chemicals, such as glycolic acid or salicylic acid, applied to your skin help remove dead skin cells, unclog pores, remove whiteheads and blackheads, and can generate new skin growth. These chemical peels are often used with acne creams or gels for better penetration of the medication. Depending on strength of the chemical, side effects of chemical peels range from temporary redness, blisters, scaling and crusting to scarring, infection and abnormal skin coloring.
- Microdermabrasion. This type of treatment involves a hand-held device that blows crystals onto skin. These crystals gently abrade or "polish" the skin's surface. Then, a vacuum tube removes the crystals and skin cells. The procedure exfoliates and unclogs pores. Similar to chemical peels, microdermabrasion is often used with other acne treatments to increase their effectiveness.
These procedures are best done by a doctor. Trying these treatments at home could cause infections, acne flare-ups or scars. If your skin tends to form scar tissue, chemical peels or microdermabrasion could make your complexion worse.
Combination therapies
Combination therapies, for example, using prescription creams and oral antibiotics, target all the causes of acne, which makes the treatment plan more successful. Several combination therapies have been shown to be effective in controlling acne:
- Retinoids and oral antibiotics. Prescription products derived from vitamin A (retinoids) can be combined with oral antibiotics for better treatment of acne. Retinoids work by promoting cell turnover and preventing the plugging of the hair follicle. Oral antibiotics kill P. acnes bacteria and reduce inflammation.
- Benzoyl peroxide and topical antibiotics. Benzoyl peroxide is most effective if it's combined with antibiotics applied to your skin (topical antibiotics). Benzoyl peroxide can dry up the oil, kill bacteria and promote sloughing of dead skin cells. Topical antibiotics can kill bacteria on the skin's surface and fight inflammation.
P. acnes can become resistant to a particular antibiotic, especially if that antibiotic is misused or overused. Bacterial resistance makes treating acne difficult because the antibiotic is no longer effective in killing the bacteria. Combination therapies, especially those that include benzoyl peroxide, are less likely to lead to bacterial resistance.
Keep realistic expectations
If you're interested in new acne treatments, talk to your doctor about your options. He or she can help you create a treatment plan that's right for you.
Regardless of the treatment you use, be sure to keep realistic expectations. Acne can't be cured, only controlled. You won't start seeing improvements from most treatments for six to eight weeks, and your acne might appear worse before it gets better. But if you stick to your treatment regimen, your patience usually pays off with clearer skin.
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