'The World'

By Trevor Mulholland

Unfortunately, there are no "cures" for acne. A foolproof way to keep acne from coming back does not exist. However, there are therapies and skin care regimens that can help to treat acne. These are as close to acne cures as you will get and with some patience, you are sure to find one (or two) that work for you.

Clinical Cures for Acne
Dermatologists are now using FDA approved light and laser therapies that show real effects in the reduction of acne. Blue light therapy and a combination of pulsed light therapy and heat therapy kill the bacterium that causes the common type of acne. The combination light therapy also shrinks the oil glands in the skin, which reduces the production of oil.

Other treatments performed in the dermatologist's office are chemical peels, microdermabrasion, and diode laser therapy. Both chemical peels and microdermabrasion take off the top layers of skin and stimulate the renewal of skin cells. Chemical peels use a chemical combination that is applied to the skin. Microdermabrasion uses a device that blows tiny crystals onto the skin. This sloughs off
skin, clears the pores and then vacuums the crystals and refuse off the face. Diode
lasers penetrate to the middle layer of the skin and destroy the sebaceous glands, thus stopping the production of oil.

Over the Counter Acne Cures
Products that contain salicylic acid work to get rid of some acne as do those ointments containing benzoyl peroxide, retinol or sulfur. For the best results, use retinol with oral antibiotics (prescribed by your dermatologist) and benzoyl peroxide with topical antibiotics. These treat more than one cause of acne, which makes treatments more effective.

Proper Skin Care
Keeping skin clean is always important, but when you have acne, it is even more so. For most, oily skin comes along with acne and the pore-clogging oils can cause acne eruptions. To help reduce the oil without drying out the skin, you should wash the affected areas twice a day. Make sure to use a mild cleanser as harsher ones can cause your skin to be inflamed. For exceptionally oily skin, use an astringent every morning.

A weekly facial sauna helps to clear up acne. This involves holding your face over steaming water for several minutes to clear out pores and then splashing your face with very cold water several times to tighten the pores. You can use a shower to get the same results on the rest of your skin.