Which treatment works for mild acne?

Mild acne consists of small lesions, such as blackheads, whiteheads or pustules. These lesions appear at or near the surface of the skin. As such, mild cases of acne can be controlled at home by gently washing the affected area with warm water and a mild soap twice a day.  Doing this, you will be able to remove dead skin cells and excess oil. Using a topical over-the-counter acne treatment containing benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid might also help you. At-home treatment requires 4-8 weeks to see an improvement, but once acne clears, you must continue treatment to prevent new lesions from forming.

You must know that even mild cases of acne may require the help of a dermatologist. If the acne does not respond to at-home treatment, a dermatologist can assess the situation and determine other appropriate therapy that could work. In these cases, combination therapy might work. A doctor may present a combination therapy using a prescription topical antimicrobial or topical retinoid. This prescription topical can be very effective in clearing mild acne.

Treatment for moderate or moderately severe acne

In moderate to moderately severe acne, numerous whiteheads, blackheads, papules and pustules appear. Most commonly, those cover from ¼ to ¾ of the face or other affected areas. Such acne usually requires the help of a dermatologist and combination therapy using two or more treatment options. Treatments used to treat moderate to moderately severe acne are physical methods, such as comedo extraction or light therapy. Prescription medications are topical antimicrobials, topical retinoids, oral antibiotics, oral contraceptives, or over-the-counter topical acne medications. Dermatologists recommend early treatment, because otherwise scars can develop. Acne scars form as raised thickened tissue, or as depressions such as pits or pockmarks. The only reliable method of preventing or limiting the extent of these scars is to treat acne early in its course. Off course, treatment should last for as long as necessary. Additionally, anyone with acne who has a known tendency to scar should be under the care of a dermatologist and receive appropriate treatment.