Acne Treatment

Acne develops when the tiny openings in your skin — called hair follicles or pores — become blocked. Each follicle contains a hair strand and small glands that produce oil to keep your skin soft and protected. When too much oil or other material builds up, the pores can get clogged, leading to breakouts.

Your pores may get blocked by:

• Sebum: This natural oil helps keep your skin hydrated and acts as a barrier. However, excess sebum can mix with dirt or dead skin, clogging the pores
• Bacteria: A small amount of bacteria normally lives on your skin. When they multiply too much, they can irritate the follicles and cause inflammation
• Dead Skin Cells: Your skin constantly renews itself by shedding old cells. If these dead cells are not cleaned properly, they can stick inside the pores and cause blockages.

When a pore becomes clogged, it traps oil, bacteria, and dead skin inside. This causes swelling, redness, and pain.

Acne can appear in different forms depending on its cause and severity. The most common types include:

• Cystic acne: This severe form of acne develops deep under the skin. This forms large, pus-filled bumps. It can be painful and may leave scars if not treated properly.
• Fungal acne (also known as yeast folliculitis): This form of acne occurs when excess yeast grows inside the hair follicles. This leads to small, itchy, red bumps that may resemble regular pimples.
• Hormonal acne: This often seen in adults. It triggers by hormonal changes that increase oil (sebum) production and block pores.
• Nodular acne: This type forms of acne usually hard, tender lumps beneath the skin along with visible pimples on the surface. It usually requires medical care because it can be persistent and painful.

Acne can be treated in several ways, depending on your age, skin type, and how severe the breakouts are. Your doctor may suggest oral medicines, topical creams, or a combination of medical therapies to help clear your skin.

Topical Treatments

Topical medicines are applied directly to the skin. This usually includes moisturiser or lotion. It reduces bacteria, control oil, and unclog pores. Common options include:

• Benzoyl Peroxide: This is available in gels or face washes. It’s ingredient kills acne-causing bacteria and helps reduce inflammation.
• Salicylic Acid: It often found in cleansers and creams. It removes dead skin cells and keeps pores from getting blocked.
• Azelaic Acid: It is naturally found in grains like wheat and barley; it helps kill bacteria and soothes irritation.
• Retinoids (Vitamin A Derivatives): Products such as adapalene or tretinoin help unclog pores and prevent new pimples.
• Topical Antibiotics: Medicines like clindamycin or erythromycin reduce bacteria on the skin and are often used along with benzoyl peroxide for better results.
• Dapsone Gel: This antibacterial gel helps calm red, inflamed acne.

Oral Medications

For moderate to severe acne, your doctor may prescribe oral medicines to treat the condition from within. These include:

• Antibiotics: Pills like doxycycline, tetracycline, or minocycline help reduce bacteria and inflammation.
• Isotretinoin: A powerful oral retinoid that shrinks oil glands and prevents new acne formation. It’s usually prescribed when other treatments don’t work.
• Hormonal Therapy or Birth Control Pills: For women, certain contraceptive pills can help regulate hormones that trigger acne. These pills usually contain both estrogen and progesterone.
• Spironolactone: This medication blocks the effect of certain hormones on oil glands and is often used for hormonal acne or acne linked to menstrual cycles.

Other Medical Treatments

If creams or medicines alone aren’t effective, dermatologists may recommend additional procedures to improve skin texture and control acne:

• Steroid Injections: For large, painful cysts, a small steroid injection can quickly reduce swelling and discomfort.
• Laser and Light Therapy: These treatments use focused light or heat to target acne scars and boost new collagen growth, helping the skin heal naturally.
• Chemical Peels: This procedure gently removes the top layer of damaged skin, encouraging fresh, smoother skin to form and reducing acne scars over time.

Each treatment plan is unique. It’s best to work with a qualified dermatologist who can identify the cause of your acne and design a routine that works safely and effectively for your skin.

Simple home care can help medical treatments work better:

• Gentle Cleansing – Wash your face twice daily with mild soap. Avoid scrubbing hard.
• Ice Packs – Reduce swelling and redness, useful for overnight pimple treatment.
• Tea Tree Oil – Natural antibacterial, helpful for small pimples.
• Exfoliation – Helps remove dead skin and prevents clogged pores (pimple pores treatment).
• Healthy Diet and Hydration – Eat fruits, vegetables, and drink plenty of water. Avoid too much sugar and fried food.
• Proper Hygiene – Change pillow covers regularly, especially for forehead pimples treatment.

For back acne treatment or body acne treatment, use specialised creams and maintain proper hygiene to prevent new pimples.

Mild acne can often be managed at home, but see a dermatologist if:

• Acne is severe, painful, or cystic.
• Pimples are leaving scars or dark spots.
• Over-the-counter creams do not work after a few months.
• Hormonal acne or PCOS pimples treatment is required.
• Acne persists in areas like lips, nose, scalp, or back (lip pimple treatment, nose pimple treatment, scalp acne treatment, back acne treatment).

A dermatologist can examine your skin, find the cause, and suggest a personalized plan with creams, medications, or advanced treatments like laser treatment for acne.