Skin acne is a condition that is so visible to the sufferer and to others that any progress toward self confidence is of help to long term health.

Skin acne is just one of the major types of acne. The area that is usually prone to acne breakouts includes the face, neck and shoulders. Sometimes there are breakouts on the chest, arms and buttocks. However, it is the breakouts that appear on the face that are usually most visible and that creates the greatest mental anguish, particularly in the adolescents who often have low self esteem already. Treatment that is effective should include a component that helps the sufferer be able to deal with the mental effects of blemished skin. Prevention is always best, but for those who are already scarred, more direct action may be necessary.

Understand the Scope

Understanding how significant the case of the skin acne is, require some understanding of the causes and appearance of various types of acne. Since there are many different types of acne the symptoms are similar, but the causes are often different. For this reason, treatment may be quite different depending upon the cause. It may be necessary to consult with a medical specialist in order to determine what type of acne is involved and how significant the condition is. This will help you to determine how aggressive the treatment should be.

Take Positive Action

Regardless of the type of skin acne that is involved, it is important to take action sooner rather than later. Early intervention and treatment is more likely to result in positive results for the acne sufferer. Another advantage of early positive action is that in the early stages, acne may be less severe so that a lower level treatment is possible. Topical antibiotics may be used rather than oral antibiotics or even more invasive procedures, still with a reasonable expectation of successful treatment. Given a choice, most people would prefer not to take a lengthy regimen of antibiotics.

Cleansing and medication

Skin acne typically responds well to gentle cleansing, particularly with products containing salicylic acid. These products help to clean the skin without excessive drying. Reducing the population of P. acnes on the skin has been found to reduce the number and severity of acne outbreaks. If more severe acne is in the diagnosis, you should be prepared to up the level of medications that will control the acne symptoms. If past acne outbreaks have resulted in skin damage, additional treatment may be required to cosmetically remove the evidence of the damage.

Professional assistance

Whether skin acne is mild or quite severe, you should consult with a professional in order to determine the exact type of acne that is involved and the severity of the condition. The dermatologist is trained to define the condition and to prescribe a treatment plan depending upon the circumstances of your condition. In addition, if the previous acne has caused scarring, a dermatologist may be able to recommend and complete additional cosmetic treatments such as dermabrasion or even cosmetic surgery. Other new treatment practices include intensive light treatment such as blue light. Ultraviolet light as a treatment to reduce skin bacteria is no longer commonly used.