How to Treat Acne

Many people are plagued by acne during their teenage years but for some of us it is a problem that carries on well into adulthood. There are many causes and cures for acne, you just have to find the ones that apply to you personally. Here is some information to get you started on that quest.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Washing twice a day with a benzol peroxide facial cleanser is a good start.

2. Be sure to exfoliate only once or twice a week. No more than that! Over exfoliating can stimulate your oil production and make acne even worse.

3. Wash your pillowcases often and anything else that comes into contact with your face regularly. Your cell phone for instance, if you talk on the phone often, you spend a good deal of time with that phone pressed against your face, make sure you wipe it down regularly.

4. Address any diet issues you might have. Oftentimes, if you eat a lot of junk food, your skin will reflect that. Some people have found freedom from acne with a specific diet. You can read more about that at www.thepaleodiet.com.

5. Switch to all natural skin products. If cost is an issue you can use apple cider vinegar as a cleanser/toner twice a day (yes, it smells but it is very effective), fine ground organic oatmeal as a scrub, and grapeseed oil, ricebran oil, or rosehip oil all make great moisturizers. Coconut oil is also a wonderful moisturizer but should only be used if you have dry skin.

6. Talk to a dermatologist about your options. There are several medications that you could try. Accutane is usually very effective but there are side effects that should be researched before you try it. Laser treatments are also an option you may want to look into.

7. Don't give up. It may take you awhile to figure out what works for you, but you're not alone. Check out websites where other people share their experiences. www.acne.org is a good website for more information.