Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: Treating Acne with Hydrogen Peroxide
• Method 2 of 3: Fight Acne with Natural Remedies
• Method 3 of 3: Remove acne with medication
• Tips
• Warnings

You probably already know that human skin contains thousands of tiny holes called pores. Inside the pores are glands that produce oil, or the so-called sebum. Under normal conditions, this does not cause any problem. However, under unfavorable circumstances, pores can become blocked and become infected, causing oil to become stuck in them, leading to acne formation. As a rule, small black or white pimples appear first, which can be difficult to see, and if the pore wall ruptures, an inflamed acne, or an abscess (the so-called papule or pustule) may form.

Attention:the information in this article is for informational purposes only. Before using any methods, consult your doctor.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Treating Acne with Hydrogen Peroxide

1. 1 Talk to your doctor first. Check with your doctor or dermatologist before using hydrogen peroxide to treat acne. Many experts advise against using hydrogen peroxide as it can irritate and dry out the skin. Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) is a chemical compound that has bleaching and disinfecting properties. Usually, a small amount of hydrogen peroxide is produced in the human body, which helps to attract white blood cells to infected areas. Due to its disinfecting effect, hydrogen peroxide kills bacteria. However, it does not have a selective effect and destroys all bacteria, while the human body contains a large number of necessary and beneficial bacteria.
2. 2 Find hydrogen peroxide in a suitable form. To treat acne, you can use two types of hydrogen peroxide: in the form of a cream containing hydrogen peroxide with a concentration of up to 1%, and in the form of a "pure" liquid solution with a concentration no more than 3%... Hydrogen peroxide solutions with concentrations above 3% are commercially available, but they in no case should not be applied to the skin.
   • 3% hydrogen peroxide is available at your local pharmacy. If you have a more concentrated hydrogen peroxide solution (usually 35%), it should be diluted with water before applying to your face. To dilute 35% hydrogen peroxide to 3%, you need to add 11 parts of water for each part of the solution.
   • If you are using a hydrogen peroxide cream, follow the instructions that came with it, which should tell you how and how often you can apply it to your face.
3. 3 Wash your face as you would normally. For acne, use a mild soap and wash with your hands, not a washcloth or brush. Wash your face with lukewarm water to open up your pores before cleansing them and using hydrogen peroxide. Dry your skin completely before applying hydrogen peroxide. Dry skin absorbs hydrogen peroxide better.
4. 4 Apply hydrogen peroxide to clean skin. Dampen a cotton ball, ball, or stick with peroxide and apply it to amazed areas of the skin. Do not apply hydrogen peroxide to healthy skin. Wait 5-7 minutes for the peroxide to absorb into the skin.
   • Test the hydrogen peroxide on a small area of ​​your skin before applying to acne-affected areas to see if you can tolerate it and if it is too irritating to your skin. If peroxide is severely irritating to your skin, talk to your doctor about another treatment.
   • Apply hydrogen peroxide to your skin no more than once a day.
5. 5 Apply an oil-free moisturizer. After the hydrogen peroxide is absorbed into your skin, gently apply an oil-free, high-quality facial moisturizer. Hydrogen peroxide can also help get rid of acne by drying out excess sebum. A moisturizer will protect your skin from excessive dryness and leave it soft and smooth.

Method 2 of 3: Fight Acne with Natural Remedies

1. 1 Try benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. Similar to hydrogen peroxide, benzoyl peroxide is also antibacterial and helps dry out excess sebum. Salicylic acid helps reduce inflammation and unclog pores, which can help reduce or get rid of acne. Both benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid are found as main ingredients in various topical skin products (creams, ointments, and lotions), as well as in cleansing products specifically designed to treat acne. Pharmacies have a wide variety of products that can be purchased without a prescription.
   • The first serious results may not appear until 6-8 weeks after starting treatment, so be patient. If you don't see any improvement after 10 weeks, consider using a different method.
2. 2 Tone your skin with lemon juice. Lemon juice acts as an antibacterial and exfoliating agent at the same time. It not only kills acne-causing bacteria, but also removes excess sebum and dead skin cells from your face. In addition, lemon juice is a natural whitening agent and helps to lighten acne scars over time. Wash your face as you would normally, and use a cotton ball or ball to apply 1–2 teaspoons (5–10 milliliters) of pure lemon juice to acne-affected skin. Leave the juice on for at least 30 minutes. If you do this before bed, you can just wait for the juice to dry and go to bed. If you apply lemon juice during the day, wash it off your face with cold water. When your face is dry, apply your regular daily dose of facial moisturizer.
   • Use lemon juice with caution if you have open sores, as it can cause a burning sensation when applied to them.
   • Because lemon juice has a lightening effect, it should not be used if you have dark skin.
3. 3 Use tea tree oil. Tea tree oil is a natural antibacterial agent that kills acne-causing bacteria. In addition, it is softer on the skin than many other products with a higher acid content.You can apply 100 percent pure tea tree oil directly to acne after you wash your face, or you can mix it with aloe vera gel or honey to create an acne cream.
   • Make your own facial scrub: Mix ½ cup (100 grams) sugar, one tablespoon (15 milliliters) honey, ¼ cup (60 milliliters) olive or sesame oil, and 10 drops of tea tree oil. Apply the mixture to your face and massage your face in circular motions for three minutes to exfoliate dead skin cells. Then rinse it off with warm water.
   • For some people with acne, tea tree oil can be too irritating to the skin, so test it on a small area and avoid using it if it causes significant irritation.
4. 4 Make a baking soda paste. Baking soda is a great natural exfoliator and is also very cheap. You can mix baking soda with warm water to make a paste and apply it on your face as a mask for about 15 minutes. Before washing off the mask, gently massage the skin to better remove excess sebum and dead skin cells. You can also add a teaspoon (7 grams) of baking soda to your face cleanser (no exfoliating effect) and then use it on your face. With baking soda, the cleanser will exfoliate your skin better.

Method 3 of 3: Remove acne with medication

1. 1 Talk to your dermatologist about topical products. Visit a dermatologist and work with them to create a treatment plan that suits you. Your dermatologist will be able to recommend appropriate acne treatments (creams, lotions, gels, etc.). This could be the following:
   • Topical antibiotics that can be applied to problem areas to help fight acne-causing bacteria
   • Topical retinoids that contain vitamin A and help unclog the pores of the skin (they can also increase the effectiveness of antibiotics).
2. 2 Ask your dermatologist about oral antibiotics. Your dermatologist may prescribe oral antibiotics (for example, in pill form) if you think they will be beneficial. These can be the same antibiotics you take for other infections, such as a bladder infection. They will help kill the bacteria that cause acne.
   • Oral contraceptives (such as birth control pills) are sometimes prescribed to treat acne in young women. In small doses, oral contraceptives that contain a combination of hormones such as estrogen and progestin can actually help with acne.
3. 3 Learn about blackhead extraction. You may have heard that it is forbidden squeeze pimples yourself (which is correct), but a doctor can do it! Extraction is a safe method that allows you to unclog infected pores without much of the risk of scarring, as can be the case if you try to squeeze the blackhead out on your own. Extraction removes individual pimples, so you may need to see your doctor again in case of recurring acne breakouts.
   • Extractions are sometimes done at spas that offer acne treatments, and this is definitely better than trying to squeeze the pimples out on your own. However, it is better to ask your beautician what products are used in this case to be sure that the pores of the skin do not clog again.
4. 4 Consider the possibility of a chemical peel. Chemical peels must be performed by a specialist. It uses a highly concentrated salicylic, glycolic or trichloroacetic acid solution to remove the top layer of skin on the face or other problematic area of ​​the body. This will help cleanse the skin of excess oil and dead skin cells and thereby open up the pores.
   • Chemical peels should not be done on people taking oral retinoids (such as isotretinoin), as the interaction of the two drugs can cause severe skin irritation.
   • Although improvement may occur after the first chemical peel, it will likely take several sessions for a lasting effect.
5. 5 Get a cortisone injection. Cortisone is an anti-inflammatory steroid drug that can be injected directly into acne. After an injection of cortisone, the swelling subsides within 24 to 48 hours. Because cortisone is injected into individual acne, it is a local rather than a general agent, and is not usually used for severe acne.
6. 6 Learn about light therapy. Light therapy has been shown to be a promising treatment for acne, but research is still ongoing. The idea behind light therapy is that light of a specific wavelength (such as blue light) can target acne-causing bacteria and reduce inflammation of the pores of the skin. As a rule, light therapy is carried out by specialists in hospitals. However, there are also devices for home use.
   • Likewise, some types of lasers are used to get rid of acne and reduce scars.
7. 7 Talk to your dermatologist about taking oral retinoids. The oral retinoid isotretinoin helps reduce the amount of sebum produced in the pores, which in turn reduces inflammation and relieves acne. However, isotretinoin, also known as Roaccutane, is commonly used by doctors as a last resort for severe acne that does not respond to other treatments. Typically, this drug is taken no longer than 4-5 months.
   • Isotretinoin has some very serious side effects. It is capable of increasing blood fat to a critical level, as well as adversely affecting liver function. In addition, isotretinoin can be very dry skin, especially lips and acne-affected areas. Doctors usually do blood tests regularly to monitor for possible side effects.
   • The most serious side effect of isotretinoin is its ability to cause birth defects. Obviously, this means that this drug should not be taken by pregnant women, those who suspect pregnancy or are trying to become pregnant. If you are sexually active while taking isotretinion, you should use at least two methods to protect yourself from getting pregnant.

Tips

• Although scientific studies have not yet revealed the exact cause of acne and acne, it is known that their formation is associated with hormonal balance and genetic predisposition, as well as stress in some way. There is no scientific evidence that acne is related to nutrition.
• In addition to its antibacterial properties, hydrogen peroxide helps to cleanse the skin by removing dead skin cells and excess sebum, thereby opening pores.
• If you have dark skin and can't use a lemon toner, try an apple cider vinegar toner instead. To make this tonic, simply mix two parts water and one part apple cider vinegar.

Warnings

• Not all skin reacts to hydrogen peroxide in the same way. If you experience any unpleasant side effects after applying hydrogen peroxide (or any other substance), stop using it immediately and consult your doctor.
• Before than using any method not recommended by your doctor, consult a dermatologist.