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Occasionally, large cysts that seem like acne may be boils caused by a staph infection. To help prevent the oil buildup that can contribute to acne, wash your face once or twice a day with a mild soap and warm water.

Don't scrub your face hard with a washcloth — acne can't be scrubbed away, and scrubbing may actually make it worse by irritating the skin and pores.

Try cleansing your face as gently as you can. If you wear makeup or sunscreen, make sure it's labeled "noncomedogenic" or "nonacnegenic. And when you're washing your face, be sure you take the time to remove all of your makeup so it doesn't clog your pores. Acne isn't really helped by the sun.

Although a tan can temporarily make acne look less severe, it won't help it go away permanently — and some people find that the oils their skin produces after being in the sun make their pimples worse. If you use hair sprays or gels, try to keep them away from your face, as they also can clog pores.

If you have long hair that touches your face, be sure to wash it often enough to keep oil away. And if you have an after-school job that puts you in contact with oil — like in a fast-food restaurant or gas station, for example — be sure to wash your face well when you get home.

It also can help to wash your face after you've been exercising. Many over-the-counter lotions and creams containing salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide are available to help prevent acne and clear it up at the same time. You can experiment with these to see which helps. Be sure to follow the instructions exactly — don't use more than you're supposed to at one time your skin may get too dried out and feel and look worse and follow any label directions about allergy testing.

Some people do find that they notice their breakouts get more severe when they eat too much of a certain food. If you're one of them, it's worth trying to cut back on that food to see what happens. Sometimes even though they wash properly and try lotions and oil-free makeup, people get acne anyway — and this is totally normal.

See your GP if you're considering having cosmetic surgery. They'll be able to discuss your options with you and advise you about the likelihood of having the procedure carried out on the NHS. Many private clinics offer treatment for acne scarring. The British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons website has more information about private treatment available in your area.

It's important to have realistic expectations about what cosmetic treatment can achieve. While treatment can certainly improve the appearance of your scars, it can't get rid of them completely.

Dermabrasion involves removing the top layer of skin, either using lasers or a specially made wire brush. After the procedure, your skin will look red and sore for several months, but as it heals you should notice an improvement in the appearance of your scars. Laser treatment can be used to treat mild to moderate acne scarring. There are 2 types of laser treatment:. Punch techniques are used to treat ice pick scars and boxcar scars. There are 3 types of punch technique:. Subcision is a surgical treatment that can be used to treat rolling scars.

During surgery, the upper layer of the skin is removed from the underlying scar tissue. This allows blood to pool under the affected area. The blood clot helps form connective tissue, which pushes up the rolling scar so it's level with the rest of the surface of the skin. Once subscision has been completed, additional treatment, such as laser treatment and dermabrasion, can be used to further improve the appearance of the scar.

Acne can often cause intense feelings of anxiety and stress, which can sometimes make people with the condition become socially withdrawn. This combination of factors can lead to people with acne becoming depressed. You may be depressed if during the last month you've often felt down, depressed or hopeless, and have little interest or pleasure in doing things. Read more about treatment for depression.

Home Illnesses and conditions Skin, hair and nails Acne. Acne See all parts of this guide Hide guide parts 1. About acne 2. Causes of acne 3. Diagnosing acne 4. Treating acne 5. Complications of acne. About acne Acne is a common skin condition that affects most people at some point.

The self-help techniques below may be useful: Don't wash affected areas of skin more than twice a day. Frequent washing can irritate the skin and make symptoms worse Wash the affected area with a mild soap or cleanser and lukewarm water. Very hot or cold water can make acne worse Don't try to "clean out" blackheads or squeeze spots.

This can make them worse and cause permanent scarring Avoid using too much make-up and cosmetics. Use water-based products that are described as non-comedogenic this means the product is less likely to block the pores in your skin Completely remove make-up before going to bed If dry skin is a problem, use a fragrance-free, water-based emollient Regular exercise can't improve your acne, but it can boost your mood and improve your self-esteem.

Shower as soon as possible once you finish exercising, as sweat can irritate your acne Wash your hair regularly and try to avoid letting your hair fall across your face Although acne can't be cured, it can be controlled with treatment. When to get professional advice. Pharmacy First Scotland: Acne treatment from your pharmacy If you have acne you can get advice and treatment directly from a pharmacy.

Find your local pharmacy on Scotland's Service Directory. Why do I have acne? Other possible causes Acne is known to run in families. There's no evidence that diet, poor hygiene or sexual activity play a role in acne. Who's affected? Acne is most common in girls from the ages of 14 to 17, and in boys from the ages of 16 to Causes of acne Acne is caused when tiny holes in the skin, known as hair follicles, become blocked.

Testosterone Teenage acne is thought to be triggered by increased levels of a hormone called testosterone, which occurs during puberty. Acne in families Acne can run in families. If your parents had acne, it's likely that you'll also develop it. These times include: periods — some women have a flare-up of acne just before their period pregnancy — many women have symptoms of acne at this time, usually during the first 3 months of their pregnancy polycystic ovary syndrome — a common condition that can cause acne, weight gain and the formation of small cysts inside the ovary Other triggers Other possible triggers of an acne flare-up include: some cosmetic products — however, this is less common as most products are now tested, so they don't cause spots non-comedogenic certain medications — such as steroid medications , lithium used to treat depression and bipolar disorder and some anti-epileptic drugs used to treat epilepsy regularly wearing items that place pressure on an affected area of skin, such as a headband or backpack smoking — which can contribute to acne in older people Acne myths Despite being one of the most widespread skin conditions, acne is also one of the most poorly understood.

There are many myths and misconceptions about it: "Acne is caused by a poor diet" So far, research hasn't found any foods that cause acne. Diagnosing acne Your pharmacist can diagnose acne by looking at your skin. Read more about diagnosing PCOS.

Treating acne Treatment for acne depends on how severe it is. The various treatments for acne are outlined below. Treatments from your GP See your GP if your acne is more widespread, as you probably need prescription medication. For example, if: you have a large number of papules and pustules over-the-counter medication hasn't worked Prescription medications that can be used to treat acne include: topical retinoids topical antibiotics azelaic acid antibiotic tablets in women, the combined oral contraceptive pill isotretinoin tablets If you have severe acne, your GP can refer you to an expert in treating skin conditions dermatologist.

For example, if you have: a large number of papules and pustules on your chest and back, as well as your face painful nodules A combination of antibiotic tablets and topical treatments is usually the first treatment option for severe acne. Topical treatments gels, creams and lotions Benzoyl peroxide Benzoyl peroxide works as an antiseptic to reduce the number of bacteria on the surface of the skin.

Benzoyl peroxide can have a bleaching effect, so avoid getting it on your hair or clothes. Common side effects of benzoyl peroxide include: dry and tense skin a burning, itching or stinging sensation some redness and peeling of the skin Side effects are usually mild and should pass once the treatment has finished.

Topical retinoids Topical retinoids work by removing dead skin cells from the surface of the skin exfoliating which helps to prevent them building up within hair follicles. Apply to all the parts of your face affected by acne 20 minutes after washing your face. The most common side effects of topical retinoids are mild irritation and stinging of the skin. Topical antibiotics Topical antibiotics help kill the bacteria on the skin that can infect plugged hair follicles.

Side effects are uncommon, but can include: minor irritation of the skin redness and burning of the skin peeling of the skin Azelaic acid Azelaic acid is often used as an alternative treatment for acne if the side effects of benzoyl peroxide or topical retinoids are particularly irritating or painful.

You'll usually need to use azelaic acid for a month before your acne improves. The side effects of azelaic acid are usually mild and include: burning or stinging skin itchiness dry skin redness of the skin Antibiotic tablets Antibiotic tablets oral antibiotics are usually used in combination with a topical treatment to treat more severe acne.

It usually takes about 6 weeks before you notice an improvement in your acne. Hormonal therapies Hormonal therapies can often benefit women with acne, especially if the acne flares up around periods or is associated with hormonal conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome. Co-cyprindiol Co-cyprindiol is a hormonal treatment that can be used for more severe acne that doesn't respond to antibiotics. Other side effects of co-cyprindiol include: bleeding and spotting between your periods, which can sometimes occur for the first few months headaches sore breasts mood changes loss of interest in sex weight gain or weight loss Isotretinoin Isotretinoin has a number of beneficial effects: it helps to normalise sebum and reduce how much is produced it helps to prevent follicles becoming clogged it decreases the amount of bacteria on the skin it reduces redness and swelling in and around spots However, the drug can also cause a wide range of side effects.

Common side effects of isotretinoin include: inflammation, dryness and cracking of the skin, lips and nostrils changes in your blood sugar levels inflammation of your eyelids blepharitis inflammation and irritation of your eyes conjunctivitis blood in your urine Rarer side effects of isotretinoin include: inflammation of the liver hepatitis inflammation of the pancreas pancreatitis kidney disease Because of the risk of these rarer side effects, you'll need a blood test before and during treatment.

Isotretinoin and birth defects Isotretinoin will damage an unborn baby. If you're a woman of childbearing age: don't use isotretinoin if you're pregnant or you think you're pregnant use 1, or ideally 2, methods of contraception for 1 month before treatment begins, during treatment and for 1 month after treatment has finished have a pregnancy test before, during and after treatment You'll be asked to sign a form confirming that you understand the risk of birth defects and are willing to use contraceptives to prevent this risk, even if you're not currently sexually active.

Isotretinoin is also not suitable if you're breastfeeding. Isotretinoin and mood changes There have been reports of people experiencing mood changes while taking isotretinoin. Non-pharmaceutical treatments Several treatments for acne don't involve medication. These include: comedone extractor — a small pen-shaped instrument that can be used to clean out blackheads and whiteheads chemical peels — where a chemical solution is applied to the face, causing the skin to peel off and new skin to replace it photodynamic therapy — where light is applied to the skin in an attempt to improve symptoms of acne However, these treatments may not work and can't be routinely recommended.

Complications of acne Acne scarring can sometimes develop as a complication of acne. For more severe breakouts, topical treatments are generally not effective when used on their own. It is best to use home remedies alongside treatments that a doctor prescribes, rather than instead of them.

Many people use apple cider vinegar as a home remedy due to its antibacterial properties. Some people believe apple cider vinegar may target acne-causing bacteria and help heal the skin. Some people recommend cleansing the skin with olive oil to reduce acne. They believe the olive oil joins with excess oil on the skin, helping lift it out of the pores. This is thought to prevent clogging and reduce breakouts. A study found olive oil to have antioxidant properties when used on the skin.

Beyond this, there is little evidence to suggest it supports skin health or prevents acne. Stress hormones in the body may trigger acne breakouts. For this reason, mindfulness, meditation, or yoga may help reduce breakouts.

These activities are known to reduce stress levels and improve well-being. To reduce the chance of scarring, it is essential not to attempt to pop acne nodules. Trying to squeeze them will only cause further inflammation and may cause scarring.

There is a range of therapies a doctor or dermatologist may recommend to improve the appearance of skin and reduce scarring. Nodular acne is a painful, severe form of acne that is characterized by hard lesions under the skin. There are several treatments available for this skin condition.

If a person has nodular acne, they should speak to a doctor or dermatologist about a personalized treatment plan. A look at nose acne, a common condition with a range of causes.

Included is detail on the different types of nose acne and ways to prevent them. A range of factors can cause acne on the jawline. While there is no cure, there are many effective treatments. But can it be prevented? Learn more…. Several factors can cause acne, but simple hygiene techniques and lifestyle changes can often prevent pimples from forming.

Washing regularly and…. Blue light therapy is a noninvasive phototherapy treatment for acne. Studies suggest that it can improve, but not totally resolve, some cases of acne….