What Are My Acne Therapy Choices?

You know by now that acne is a part of growing up. You learn how to crawl, how to walk, how to ride your bike, and then you learn how to deal with acne. That first pimple can appear any time in your childhood and it has the potential to get worse and worse if left untreated. So, now you are a teenager and are wondering, what are my acne therapy choices?

Over-The-Counter Medications as Acne Therapy

The easiest and most common place teenagers with acne visit are the drug store.  Let’s face it, how many times have you walked up and down the “acne” aisle wondering what jar or bottles will make those pimples go away?  Most of these over-the-counter acne therapy products contain benzoyl peroxide that has been proven to reduce and treat acne.  The levels of benzoyl peroxide are low and you can only purchase products with higher levels through your dermatologist.

If you choose to start an over-the-counter acne therapy you must carefully follow the directions. It is common for teenagers to overuse the products hoping that it will make them more effective. Often, this is not true. Overusing the products can lead to further breakouts, dry skin, and even adverse reactions to the ingredients. As mentioned earlier benzoyl peroxide is the main ingredient in over-the-counter acne therapy products. Benzoyl peroxide can easily dry out your skin and cause redness and irritation. Overusing the product will only make that worse.

Who Can Help Find a Good Acne Therapy?

So, you might have tried over-the-counter products and still see no results. The question is what do you do from there? It may be time to check in with your dermatologist or doctor. A dermatologist is an expert in the field and can assess what type of acne you have and the proper steps to treat it.

Talk with your parents about your options and what type of insurance you have to cover the appointments. Dermatologist visits are not always affordable and you should make sure that your parents are on board with the decision. If a dermatologist visit it not an option you can located and visit a local esthetician. An esthetician will not be able to prescribe topical or oral treatments, but may be able to provide you with some advice on other types of acne therapy treatments including peels.

Dermatologist Recommended Acne Therapy

The dermatologist is a great resource for any teenager dealing with acne. At the dermatologist’s office you can learn and try a variety of acne therapy options. There are several topical treatments that contain higher levels of benzoyl peroxide in addition to other active ingredients that may help. Furthermore, a dermatologist can prescribe oral antibiotics that help fight acne from the inside out.

You can also learn about the latest forms of light therapy used on acne. Light therapy can help kill some of the unwanted bacteria on the skin. Chemical peels and microdermabrasian are also options you can discuss with your dermatologist.

Acne may be frustrating, but you do have multiple acne therapy options at your disposal.