Don’t Make These Acne Treatment Mistakes

Acne Treatment Mistakes

If you suffer from acne (and nearly 50 million Americans do), you have probably been bombarded with all sorts of acne

treatment solutions : from face washes to creams, gels, masks, medication, laser solutions and the lists goes on.

It is no wonder that finding the right acne treatment is a baffling experience.

However, what not to do is just as important as what to do and here is a top eight list compiled by dermatologists (courtesy of Wed MD), of common mistakes when it comes to treating acne.

The Top Eight Common Acne Treatment Mistakes:

1) Not giving the treatment time to work – It takes usually from 2-6 weeks for an acne treatment to work and sometimes, your skin will get worse before it gets better. Give the product one month’s trial to give it a chance to work.

2) Trying too many products in one go – We want the acne to preferably disappear over night and when they don’t clear in a matter of days, we immediately move onto the next product. “They also add one product to another. Sometimes the products can cause irritation of the skin and add further insult to the owner,” Barbara R. Reed, MD, a dermatology professor at the University of Colorado Hospital in Denver says.

3) Thinking acne is a result of dirt – which we then try to “remedy” by over scrubbing and over cleaning. Scrubbing will only irritate the skin more as it can compromise the skin’s protective barrier. Instead wash gently with a PH balanced non irritating wash.

4) Choosing the wrong product – Go for non-comedogenic face cleansers and watch out for oil based products that could clog pores. Other ingredients to look out for are : isopropyl palmitate, isopropyl myristate, butyl stearate, isopropyl isostearate, decyl oleate, isostearyl neopentanoate, isocetyl stearate, myristle myristate, cocoa butter, acetylated lanolin, and D & C red dyes. They could be found in moisturizers, sun screens and cosmetics so look out for them.

5) Picking at the acne yourself – Looking at the pimples ten times a day will not make them heal faster. Nor will picking at them with your fingers which could make the lesions more infected. Either have them extracted professionally or give time for your acne products to work.

6) Not seeing a dermatologist – Dermatologists can diagnose, treat and give prescribed medication to treat acne. It is important to understand and treat your acne with the right medication at an early stage to prevent them from getting worse, or from scarring your face. Seek help before it gets out of hand.

7) Over using or under using the prescribed acne medication – Piling it on will not necessarily make it better faster, whilst not using the medication when you should will also undermine the cure. The key is consistency and to target all acne prone areas.

8. Stopping the acne medication too soon – Just as it takes 2-6 weeks for the acne to clear up, it will take that long for it to come back. Don’t stop cold turkey. Instead, decrease use gradually for example from twice a day to once a day, then once every other day to two, three times a week and keep an eye out for any re-occurrences.

Remember to give your acne treatment time to do its work and be patient!