Recent News and Articles on the Keywords: treat acne + acne + treat  Related to the article below (Last Update: 8/7/2008)

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What can I use to treat acne?

You can treat spots once they have appeared, but it is far better to stop new ones forming.

Find out which treatments are best for you with our quick guide below.

Over-the-counter treatments
The first step to treating your acne is over-the-counter remedies. Most acne treatments contain an ingredient called benzoyl peroxide, which is a very mild bleach.

Benzoyl peroxide works by removing the top layer of dead skin cells, unblocking pores, and also has a mild antiseptic effect on the skin, killing off the bacteria that cause spots.

Scientists have also found that this bacteria is sensitive to oxygen. Removing the dead skin cells and bringing fresh oxygen supplies to face destroys the bacteria and stops it reproducing.

Treatments contain different strengths of benzoyl peroxide, usually 2.5 per cent, 5 per cent and 10 per cent. Don't be tempted to go for the 10 per cent strength first as this can irritate your skin and cause peeling. Starting with 2.5 per cent should be fine for most people. It may irritate at first, but your skin soon becomes used to it.

You need to give any treatment at least two months to see any real difference in your skin. Alison Dudley, chief executive of the Acne Support Group, says that most acne sufferers give up too early and this is why they believe their acne is incurable.

Products containing benzoyl peroxide include the Oxy range, Benoxyl and Paroxyl and are available from most High Street chemists and pharmacists.

Treatments from your GP
Lotions and gels from the pharmacist may not be strong enough for some sufferers. If you have given your treatment two months and there is still no improvement, make an appointment to see your GP.

Your doctor will most likely prescribe antibiotics. This could be in a cream, lotion, gel or oral antibiotics that you take in tablet form. The antibiotics work by destroying the bacteria that lives on the skin.

Alison says there are more than 100 different types of antibiotics available so if your skin is still not clearing after two months, go back to your GP to see if they can prescribe another type of antibiotic.

Treating your hormones
Doctors have discovered that increased levels of the hormone oestrogen can help acne sufferers, while the hormone progesterone can make it worse.

This is why many women who go on the Pill find their acne improves, thanks to the extra oestrogen. If antibiotics are not helping your acne, your GP may prescribe the Pill instead.

However, for those on the mini-pill or having contraceptive injections, which both contain progesterone, their acne could get worse. If this is happening, talk to your doctor or family planning nurse about alternative methods of contraception that could help your acne.

Pregnancy - a time when hormones are also in flux - could also have an effect on acne.

'Some women find they have glowing skin during pregnancy, ending years as an acne sufferer. But for others it could trigger acne or make an existing problem even worse,' says Alison Dudley.

The menopause and/or taking HRT has a similar effect due to the changing hormones in the body. For some women it may mean the end of acne but some may experience spots for the first time in their lives.

If you are experiencing acne with the Pill, contraceptive injections, the menopause or HRT, talk to your doctor about changing your treatment or medication to control the acne.

Other treatments
There has been some success with vitamin A treatments, called retinoids. They help remove the top layer of skin and boost skin health - vitamin A is essential for healthy skin, eyes and hair.

Retinoids are either applied to the skin as a gel or lotion or taken internally. These are very strong and only used in hospitals for very severe cases of acne.

If you think you may be suitable for this treatment, speak to your doctor who will be able to refer you for treatment.

The latest treatment that experts believe could be the 'cure' for acne is light therapy. Based on the same kind of laser treatments used for wrinkles, the laser helps generate oxygen at the point where it comes into contact with the skin.

This appears to kill off the oxygen-intolerant bacteria that causes spots and prevents it from returning. Results of trials with light therapy are expected to be published by the end of the month.

Alternative treatments

Alternative health practitioners says certain nutrients can help acne prone skin. For example, zinc helps your body repair itself and is vital for skin renewal, giving you a fresher complexion.

Foods rich in zinc include red meat, oysters and nuts. Alternatively, you can take a zinc supplement everyday. Experts recommend a dose of no more than 30mg per day.

Will changing my diet or exercise patterns help?

People often assume that eating lots of chocolate or fatty foods will give you acne, but this is not the case.

'It's a complete myth that bad diet gives you acne,' says Alison Dudley. 'Women often crave chocolate before their period. They then get spots as a result of the hormonal changes in their body, but end up blaming them on the chocolate.'

Eating a health, balanced diet and taking up regular exercise are good for your whole body, not just your skin. But they are not specific treatments for acne.

'The effects of a good diet and exercise on acne are so minuscule that they are hardly worth mentioning,' says Alison. 'What's important to remember is that what will work for one person will not work for another and vice versa.

'You need to find the treatment that works best for you and stick with it for at least two months if you want to see a difference in your skin.'

What about scarring?

Sadly, once the skin has been scarred by acne, there are few treatments that can help.

Chemical peels and laser therapy may work, but their effectiveness depends on how severe your scarring is. The best cure for scarring is to try and stop the spots forming in the first place.

If you want to have laser therapy, talk to your GP who may be able to refer you or recommend a dermatologist.

For more information about acne, contact the Acne Support Group on www.m2w3.com/acne or call 0870 870 2263.

You can also visit their site aimed at teenagers - www.stopspots.org - which is packed with lots of useful information for adults too.