The Best Acne Treatment? Consistency

If you suffer from acne, you know very well that acne is not a static condition. It's dynamic and can change on a daily, monthly, yearly basis. One moment you've got it, the next there's hardly a trace of it. This fluctuating degree of severity creates a challenge in treating acne.

But, the biggest thing to keep in mind when trying to control your acne, whether you're a teenager in the midst of a bad bought of cystic acne or an adult with persistent surface blemishes, is to be consistent. Consistency of your treatment is one of the major keys to finally getting rid of your acne.

What does it mean to be consistent when treating acne? The majority of people with acne tend to chase it. When the acne is present, they treat it, and when they don't see it, they stop treating it. This ends up perpetuating the "acne roller coaster," so to speak. The acne goes away when the skin is treated, but comes back when the skin is neglected.

There are a few differences in treating adult acne and teenage acne. First, here are some tips on how to treat teenage acne:

When dealing with teen acne, keep in mind teenage skin is less sensitive to treatments than an adult's, and typically less likely to get reactions like swelling and irritation. This widens the scope of the products you might choose from.

- Since teenager's skin is more tolerant than an adult's, you may want to pick treatments that are more potent, like benzoyl peroxide.


- Don't switch from one treatment to another if the results don't show up immediately, as the process can take time.


- If the problem persists after an extended period of using the medication, you might feel the need to consult with a medical professional.


- It is usually not an advisable course of action to physically tamper with the acne yourself. In other words, don't pop your zit!


- Because of the fluctuating severity of teen acne, consider using an combination acne treatment that gives you flexibility, letting you decide your own medication strength.

Now, as for treating adult acne…

Dr. Katie Rodan said in a recent issue of New Beauty Magazine, "The best scenario for treating acne is combination treatment with both salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide." Adult acne isn't as tolerant to chemicals and treatments as is younger skin and the trick is to use a treatment that will get rid of acne without irritating the skin. Often, the best way to do this is to use a combination acne treatment.

Here are a couple of things you may want to remember about how to treat adult acne:

- Adult skin is not as resilient as teenager's skin and many adults find themselves avoiding benzoyl peroxide-based treatments.


- A good alternative you might look into would be salicylic acid.


-If using a combination treatment, you may decide to use the benzoyl peroxide treatment at night. That way, if your skin is temporarily irritated, it will be cleared up by morning.

To treat severe cases of acne, an over-the-counter method might not be the best solution available and you should consult your dermatologist. There are several paths you can go about taking in fixing this problem, and a good dermatologist can help you find a solution.

While there is no definite best over-the-counter acne treatment out there, there are several options. You may want to look for information on the Internet before making a decision on how to treat severe acne or how to treat adult acne. Concerning such treatments, you can find useful information at http://www.acnerecovery.com.