Hands-On Acne Treatment

There are many forms of acne treatment. The treatment right for you depends on the type of acne you have and the severity of the acne. If your acne is mild, you can use topical ointments. They are easy to apply and effective. In cases of severe acne, you need some different approaches for acne treatment. You may need to use prescription medication or physical treatments like chemical peels and drainage. Before you do anything, you should meet and discuss treatment options with a dermatologist.

When you squeeze a pimple, you are actually doing something which comes under physical acne treatment; however, you are strictly advised not to do this. Squeezing pimples can result in the spread of the acne causing bacteria. It can also lead to scarring. Squeezing pimples is not a form of acne treatment. Physical acne treatment should always be done under a doctor’s supervision to minimize the risks and maximize the benefits.

We are going to have a look at some of the techniques being utilized in physical acne treatment.

Exfoliation is the process of removing the top layer of the skin to get rid of the dead cells and the clogging. This can be done chemically or with some abrasive materials. Chemical peels use salicylic acid or glycolic acid. These chemical peels destroy the microscopic upper layer of the skin. This results in the removal of all the dead cells and the removal of oils and dead cells that block the pores. Glycolic acid treatment can be continued for a period of over six months, after every two to four weeks. Salicylic acid is far milder than glycolic acid and as such can be used on a daily basis. You can also use an abrasive cloth or liquid scrub to achieve the same effect.

Then there is comedo extraction. This involves the use of anesthetic cream in the affected area and using sterile instruments to open the top skin layer to remove the plugged cells and sebum. After that you have to apply antibiotic cream to the affected area. You should not try try to do this at home; squeezing and picking only aggravates acne and may cause permanent scarring.

The same goes with attempting to drain acne cysts. It involves cure of cysts. These cysts can be very painful and might result in scars. Drainage is one of the most effective ways to accomplish this. But it should always be undertaken in a dermatologist’s clinic with sterile instruments.