Everyone suffers from acne at some point during their life. Some have few outbreaks, while others suffer from long term, persistent infections that seem impossible to cure. Many treatments claim effective treatment in 24 hours. Unfortunately, those claims are false. The general time frame for curing acne is 4 – 8 weeks. Any products that claim will not be effective.

The first step towards getting rid of acne is eliminating irritants. Poor diet and personal hygiene both contribute to outbreaks and render treatments ineffective. Medication will not cure acne if the cause is poor diet.

Avoiding excess sugar and fat will reduce outbreaks considerably. Proper fiber intake aids digestion and will increase the bodies ability to process nutrients effectively. If excess sugar or fat is present or the body fails to adequately digest, toxins will be eliminated through the skin, resulting in perpetual outbreaks and making it difficult to get rid of acne.

Hygiene is another issue that often contributes to frequent outbreaks. Blackheads and whiteheads(comedones) are the result of built-up dead skin cells, small hairs, dirt, oil, and makeup. Failing to wash daily leads to a buildup that impacts skin pores and can lead to trapped bacteria, resulting in pustules (pimples), a condition worse than blackheads.

A hot mask will open the facial pores temporarily, loosening the trapped dirt and dead skin. Once the pores have expanded, using an astringent will break apart the impaction and make it easy to rinse off. Astringent is also effective at killing bacteria both on the surface of the skin and within the pores. This will prevent future infections. Once the pores have been cleaned, a splash of cold water will cause the pores to return to normal size. Avoid excessive washing, however, as this can lead to dry skin; wash no more than twice daily.

Getting rid of nodules and cysts are more difficult. They are often extremely painful and inflamed, and are considered a severe form of acne that is difficult to get rid of. Because the underlying cause of nodules and cysts are often unrelated to hygiene, seeing a dermatologist is usually recommended. A dermatologist will be able to prescribe stronger medication than over-the-counter options.

While dieting and hygiene are both necessary steps to get rid of acne, they are often not sufficient for completely alleviating an outbreak. Because of this, over-the-counter creams may be necessary. Acne creams vary in strength, but each contains the substance benzoyl peroxide, which is a bleaching agent. Benzoyl Perozide can effectively get rid of acne when used properly. Each cream lists its strength on the box. It is best to start with mild; using the strong creams first can result in burns worse than the acne lesions.

Do not try too many brands of acne cream at once. As a general rule, it takes approximately two months for treatments to work. Do not change creams every few days, and do not apply more often than the directions indicate.