Acne

How Long Is Long Enough For An Acne Remedy To Work

There's nothing worse for a teenager than waking up to find a huge pimple on their nose or in another very conspicuous spot. Or is there?

Yes, unfortunately there is. For the teen who suffers from severe acne, the condition can be even more crushing that that occasional pimple most people face. Severe acne, the kind bad enough a person will seek out medical advice, is reported to strike about 40 percent of the population. Teenage boys tend to get severe acne in higher numbers than girls, but the condition is equally damaging to both.

The problem with acne is that it presents a three-pronged attack on its victims. It makes them look "funny" now as breakouts occur. It makes them (oftentimes) the center of jesting, joking and ridicule. And then it can leave scars that give them a lifetime reminder of the condition that embarrassed and humiliated them years in the past.

Avoiding the effects of acne isn't always an easy proposition, but there are things that can help. For many simple over the counter medications are all that's needed to do the trick, but figuring out which one and how long to try it for can be a chore in and of itself.

For those who are facing acne for the first time or are just facing their first breakout that's bad enough to warrant medicine, there are a few rules to the over the counter game.

Here's what to do:

* First, pick a medicine. Whether it's a cream, gel or pad, go with the one that has the least amount of medicine first. If benzoyl peroxide is the chosen drug, pick one that has a concentration of about 2.5 percent. As long as the medication doesn't cause severe drying or irritation, keep using it for about two months.
* When two months pass, examine the situation. If the medication seems to have worked, keep using it. If not, try a higher dose.
* Rinse and repeat.
* If the over the counter remedies, even at higher doses, show no signs of working, it's probably time to enlist professional help. Going to a doctor for acne is a smart thing to do if all else is failing. A trip to the doctor sure beats dealing with breakouts and permanent scarring.

Remember, if everything you've tried hasn't worked, a doctor might have the solution. But do keep in mind, treating acne is highly personalized and not all medicines will work for every person. What a doctor can offer may take time to work and time to determine if a different drug is the better choice.

While it would be nice to find a quick cure all for acne, there isn't one right now. Patience and persistence are vital in finding what works right for you.