15 Effective Methods to Eliminate Acne

Your skin, the body’s largest organ, serves far more functions than just containing your internal structures. It continuously renews itself, with skin cells traveling from the deeper layers of the epidermis to the surface. As these cells age and reach the outer layer, they flatten and eventually die, forming a protective barrier alongside countless other dead cells. This layer shields you from harmful bacteria and viruses.

Tiny glands within your hair follicles produce an oily substance known as sebum. This oil combines with skin cells inside the follicle and moves toward the surface. However, excess sebum, an overabundance of dead skin cells, or surface blockages can lead to clogged follicles. When bacteria invade, the result is acne vulgaris, the most prevalent type of acne.

Although acne is most common among teenagers and individuals in their 20s, it can affect people of all ages, including infants. Our natural tendency to pick, rub, or avoid social interactions due to acne doesn’t help, but thankfully, there are effective treatments available.

What steps can we take to eliminate acne? Let’s delve deeper into that instinctive reaction next.

15: Keep Your Hands Off Your Face

Here’s a straightforward suggestion: To maintain beautiful facial skin, avoid touching it.

It sounds simple, doesn’t it? However, it’s easier said than done. Many of us don’t realize how frequently we touch our faces—whether to relieve an itch, wipe our lips, or scratch an ear. Once you start noticing how often you touch your face, you might feel a bit embarrassed.

Our hands are the main tools we use to interact with the world, and they come into contact with countless dirty surfaces. From sweat and grime to oil, bacteria, and viruses, these contaminants spread through commonly touched objects like doorknobs, store counters, and gas pump handles.

Touching your face unintentionally is bound to happen, so make it a habit to wash your hands regularly throughout the day.

On the topic of washing, let’s proceed to the next tip.

14: Wash Your Skin Twice a Day

Taking the time to cleanse your face thoroughly yet gently is one of the easiest and most impactful ways to avoid acne. Throughout the day, dirt, oil, and pollutants like cigarette smoke and air pollution accumulate on your skin.

However, avoid over-washing. Twice a day—once in the morning and once before bed—is sufficient. Use a clean washcloth, lukewarm water, and a gentle soap or cleanser. This routine effectively removes dust, dirt, dead skin cells, and bacteria without stripping your skin of its natural oils. Over-scrubbing can irritate or damage your skin, doing more harm than good.

Next, we’ll explore an activity that helps balance your hormones.

13: Work Up a Sweat

Regular exercise is an excellent way to enhance your skin’s appearance, as well as your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Aim for 30 minutes of exercise three to four times a week, but remember, any amount is better than none.

Stress triggers your skin to produce more oil, so activities that reduce stress, like yoga, can help prevent breakouts. Exercise also stabilizes hormone levels, which decreases sebum production in your hair follicles.

Exercise offers another skin benefit—sweating helps unclog pores, pushing dead skin cells to the surface where they’re less likely to cause issues.

However, to ensure you don’t negate the benefits of sweating, it’s important to follow the advice on the next page.

12: Loosen Up When You're Working Out

While facial acne is common, breakouts can occur almost anywhere on the body. A primary culprit is acne mechanica, a type of acne triggered by friction, heat, and prolonged contact between skin and clothing or sports equipment. Items like headbands and helmets often cause acne along the hairline, and chin straps can also leave their mark. If your athletic gear rubs against your skin, try adjusting it for a looser fit or removing it when not in use.

Many jogging suits or yoga outfits can also contribute to acne issues, often due to being too tight or made from synthetic materials. Opt for looser, cotton-based clothing, and you’ll likely notice an improvement in your skin’s condition.

Clothing isn’t the only concern during workouts—discover what else to consider on the next page.

11: Don't Forget to Shower

Few things feel better than finishing a workout and heading home. With the post-exercise endorphin rush still in full swing, it’s tempting to skip the shower and relax. But as you settle in to cook dinner or check emails, you’re overlooking something crucial.

During exercise, sweat carries dead skin cells out of your pores, which is beneficial since these cells can cause blockages. However, once the sweat dries, it leaves salt residue on your skin. If not washed off promptly, this residue can clog freshly cleared pores. Using a moisturizing body wash is an excellent solution—it removes the salt and restores moisture lost during your workout.

What if your pores are already clogged? Turn to the next page to find out.

10: Buy Some Benzoyl Peroxide

Many individuals struggling with acne have seen positive outcomes using benzoyl peroxide. While prescription-strength options exist (primarily in cleansers or lotions), most benzoyl peroxide products are available over the counter.

A variety of products are on the market, but most are creams or gels applied directly to affected areas. Benzoyl peroxide targets the P. acnes bacteria responsible for pore inflammation. Results may take around three weeks, so patience is key.

If benzoyl peroxide isn’t effective for you, check the next page for an alternative solution.

9: Stock Up on Salicylic Acid

While it doesn’t eliminate bacteria or affect sebum production, salicylic acid can still play a role in combating acne. It works by encouraging the shedding of the skin’s outermost layer, helping to prevent pore blockages by removing dead skin cells.

Avoid applying this exfoliating agent to irritated, sensitive skin, or areas with cuts or sores. Additionally, consistent use is necessary—once you stop, the benefits disappear.

Now that you know what to apply to improve your skin, let’s discuss what you should remove from it.

8: Take a Look at Your Makeup

When identifying the cause of your acne breakouts, consider your makeup. While makeup alone may not directly cause acne, it can exacerbate the issue. Some individuals notice a surge in blemishes when using specific brands or types of makeup. If this happens, try switching to products labeled "oil-free" or "noncomedogenic." Allow a few weeks to observe any changes. This process requires patience, which can be challenging when dealing with persistent skin issues, but systematically testing products and tracking results is worthwhile.

No matter the type of makeup you use, always remove it at the end of the day. Sleeping with makeup on ensures you’ll wake up needing even more to cover new blemishes.

If you’ve tried all the tips so far and your acne persists, the next page might offer the solution you need.

7: Ask for Antibiotics

If over-the-counter treatments fail, it may be time to consider antibiotics. These medications target and eliminate bacteria, aiding the body in fighting infections. For acne, antibiotics (available in oral or topical forms) kill the P. acnes bacteria, reducing inflammation and preventing future bacterial growth with continued use. Tetracycline, a common prescription, works by inhibiting the bacteria’s ability to produce proteins.

However, be cautious—antibiotic treatments for acne can cause side effects like dryness or scaling. Oral antibiotics may also increase skin sensitivity to light, so using sunscreen is essential to avoid severe sunburn.

There’s another medication that might help some acne sufferers. Keep reading to discover what it is.

6: Consider Birth Control Pills

For women struggling with acne, an unexpected solution might be birth control pills. Beyond regulating menstrual cycles and preventing pregnancy, these daily pills can also help achieve clearer skin when prescribed.

During adolescence, both genders experience hormonal surges, including increased levels of androgens and testosterone. These hormones stimulate the skin’s oil glands to produce more sebum, leading to clogged pores and acne when combined with dead skin cells.

The FDA has approved three specific birth control pills for acne treatment, all containing a combination of estrogen and progestin. These hormones reduce sebum production in women, helping to minimize acne. This option is typically explored after other treatments, like topical solutions, have proven ineffective.

However, there are downsides. Success isn’t guaranteed, and potential side effects include headaches, nausea, and high blood pressure. Women with certain health conditions, such as heart disease or blood clotting issues, should avoid oral contraceptives entirely.

If hormone treatments aren’t for you, a more natural solution awaits on the next page.

5: Manage Stress (and Sebum)

Ironically, stressing over acne can make it worse. Many people find a connection between stress and acne flare-ups. Stress-related habits, like neglecting exercise, touching your face frequently, poor hygiene, and possibly an unhealthy diet (though the role of diet in acne is debated), can all contribute to skin issues.

The body’s chemical response to stress significantly impacts your skin’s condition. During stress, the hypothalamus triggers the release of stress hormones, including cortisol. These hormones prepare you for a "fight-or-flight" response—increasing heart rate, sharpening perception, and boosting oil production in the skin. This oil, known as sebum, is produced by glands within hair follicles. It travels up the follicle, carrying dead skin cells to the surface, where it forms a protective layer. Blockages occur when sebum and dead skin cells accumulate, often due to surface obstructions like makeup or dirt, or increased sebum production, common during puberty. Stress elevates sebum levels, worsening acne.

Even with stress under control, some acne may resist the treatments mentioned. What else could help? Find out on the next page.

4: Try Isotretinoin

Sometimes, despite best efforts, common treatments like salicylic acid fail to deliver the desired results. In such cases, a stronger oral medication, isotretinoin, prescribed by a doctor, may be the solution.

Isotretinoin, marketed under various brand names (including Accutane), has proven effective for severe acne. While its exact mechanism remains unclear, it’s thought to reduce sebum production. For some, this medication can permanently eliminate acne; for others, it significantly reduces the frequency and severity of breakouts. Although results aren’t guaranteed, the anti-acne effects typically manifest after four to five months of treatment.

However, isotretinoin isn’t without risks. Serious side effects include birth defects if taken during pregnancy, making it a treatment that requires careful consideration.

On the next page, discover a surprisingly effective acne treatment.

3: Follow the Light (and the Heat)

Certain acne treatments involve advanced technology. Low-intensity light therapy, using blue, red, green-yellow, or combined wavelengths, has shown effectiveness in killing P. acnes bacteria. This is beneficial because clogged pores attract bacteria, leading to inflammation. A doctor can apply these light treatments painlessly with a wand-like device, though their effects last only as long as the treatment continues. Mild skin irritation may occur, but there are no other side effects.

Similarly, a specialized heat wand can treat acne by shrinking sebaceous glands, reducing sebum production and, ideally, minimizing acne. Unlike light therapy, this method targets oil production rather than bacteria.

If your acne has cleared but left behind scars, what options do you have? Find out on the next page.

2: Sandblast It

Even after overcoming acne, many are left with lingering scars. For those with acne scarring, microdermabrasion offers a way to reduce their appearance.

Unlike traditional dermabrasion, which removes a thicker layer of skin, microdermabrasion is gentler and more advanced. A doctor uses a wand-like device to spray tiny aluminum oxide particles onto the skin, which are then vacuumed away. Despite how it sounds, the process is painless and leaves no residue, so you won’t look like you’ve been rolling in sand.

This treatment targets the outermost skin layers, leaving your skin smoother and more refined. Microdermabrasion isn’t a one-time fix—it typically requires weekly sessions over several months for the best results. While some temporary redness may occur, long-term improvements in skin tone and texture are common.

What’s the most advanced acne treatment available? Find out on the next page.

1: Explore Lasers

If you’re determined to tackle stubborn sebaceous glands, consider taking the fight to the next level with laser treatments.

Lasers that use pulsating light can target specific areas of the skin, generating heat beneath the surface. This heat damages the sebaceous glands without harming the skin’s outer layer. Studies show that laser treatment can reduce acne by 50% after just two sessions [source: Friedman].

However, be prepared for some discomfort—even with a topical anesthetic, the procedure can be painful. Swelling and redness may also occur for a day or two post-treatment.

Looking for more information on acne and skincare? Check out the additional articles linked on the next page.