Learn How to Get Rid of Acne

How to Get Rid of Acne

Regardless of whether you have problems with severe acne or occasional break outs that ruin your day, you certainly want to know how to get rid of acne fast. There are lots of home remedies, over-the-counter treatments, and prescription drugs that you can turn to. Some of those options, however, will not help you eliminate acne. In fact, some of them can cause side effects that are much worse than pimples. Learning about the different methods will help you choose an option that is truly effective.

How to Get Rid of Acne with Home Remedies

Many people turn to home remedies first because these options don’t really cost any money. Some of the home remedy “experts” who claim they know how to get rid of acne have some fairly sensible ideas. Unfortunately, they never work as well as they claim.

For instance, some people claim that applying lemon juice to a pimple will clean out the pore and kill the bacteria inside. This is partially true. Lemons contain acid with some antibacterial properties. That means they could potentially kill the acne-causing bacteria living inside clogged pores. The problem with this approach, though, is the amount of sugar in lemon juice. The acid might work well if it weren’t for an abundance of sugar in the juice. This sugar clogs pores and creates other problems. Plus there’s a lot of citric acid in a lemon. If you use this method too many times, you could actually give yourself a chemical burn.

How to Get Rid of Acne with Prescription Drugs

Prescription drugs are an excellent choice for people who have severe cases of acne. There are, however, a couple of problems with this option. First, prescription drugs for acne are often very expensive. Once you add in the money that you have to spend visiting a doctor and a dermatologist, the payment for clear skin becomes pretty high. Second, prescription drugs often cause side effects. That’s one of the reasons that you can only buy the products with a prescription.

How to Get Rid of Acne with Over the Counter Treatments

OTC treatments offer a much better alternative to home remedies and prescription drugs. These products are usually very affordable. They contain ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide, sulfur, and salicylic acid that have been proven to stop acne fast.

Just because they are sold over the counter, however, does not mean that they can’t cause mild side effects. Always follow the directions carefully to make sure that you don’t overdo it without your treatment. Using a strong concentration of benzoyl peroxide too many times a day, for instance, can cause skin irritation, dryness, or flaking. As long as you stick to the directions and use a good oil-free moisturizer, though, you should be able to get rid of acne with reliable OTC products.

If you don’t respond well to these products, though, then you might need to see a dermatologist. The dermatologist will have prescription medication that might solve your problems. The first step, however, should be effective OTC products that have worked for millions of teens and adults.