Self-Care Guidelines
Traditional acne treatments often do not stop the habit of picking at the skin. These traditional treatments are:
- Gentle cleansing with mild soap or cleansers. (But don't scrub!)
- Resist picking at lesions.
- Avoid irritants (rubbing and other alcohols, abrasive scrubs) and oily creams, cosmetics, hair products, and sunscreens.
- Use products labeled "water-based" or "noncomedogenic."
- Keep hair, hands, and devices such as cell phones off the face.
- Avoid greasy products on the skin and scalp.
Over-the-counter medications:
- All over-the-counter therapies listed below should be used as a preventive therapy, applied in a thin to moderate quantity to entire regions. Acne treatment is not intended for existing individual lesions but is applied consistently over months to prevent new lesions. Expect slow improvement. Develop a skin care regimen that is modified slowly over time, not week to week.
- Benzoyl peroxide (most effective), available in a variety of forms and strengths. Benzoyl peroxides tend to dry the skin. If you have dry skin, use a weaker concentration product; for oily skin, consider higher strengths.
- A combination of a vitamin B3 (nicotinamide) and zinc is available in cream and gel form.
- Exfoliants (or peeling agents) such as salicylic acid, sulfur, resorcinol, alpha-hydroxy acids (glycolic, lactic, pyruvic, and citric acid).
- Aluminum chloride hexahydrate (an antiperspirant available as Xerac-AC™) may be useful, but can also be irritating.
- Clinac™ OC is a copolymer that absorbs oil, helping reduce the look of "greasy skin." It also is produced combined with benzoyl peroxide.
Of Note: - Acne can have significant psychological effects. Talk to your doctor about any feelings of depression. Counseling may be a key factor for improvement for acne excoriée.
- Changes in diet have no proven effect.
When to Seek Medical Care
Seek care if you have moderate or severe acne that has not improved enough with self-care.
Signs and Symptoms
