How to get rid of acne of

How to Get Rid of Forehead Acne

This article was co-authored by Mohiba Tareen, MD. Mohiba Tareen is a board certified Dermatologist and the founder of Tareen Dermatology located in Roseville, Maplewood and Faribault, Minnesota. Dr. Tareen completed medical school at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where she was inducted into the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha honor society. While a dermatology resident at Columbia University in New York City, she won the Conrad Stritzler award of the New York Dermatologic Society and was published in The New England Journal of Medicine. Dr. Tareen then completed a procedural fellowship which focused on dermatologic surgery, laser, and cosmetic dermatology.

There are 20 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.

wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, 100% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status.

This article has been viewed 206,997 times.

Does acne keep popping up on your forehead seemingly out of nowhere? The forehead is a problem area for a lot of people because it’s so close to your hair, which tends to produce and retain more oils than your skin can handle. While it can be annoying to deal with, there are a variety of ways to clear your forehead up in no time. In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about clearing your forehead up and getting rid of those obnoxious blemishes.

How to Get Rid of Acne Redness Fast

This article was medically reviewed by Mohiba Tareen, MD. Mohiba Tareen is a board certified Dermatologist and the founder of Tareen Dermatology located in Roseville, Maplewood and Faribault, Minnesota. Dr. Tareen completed medical school at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where she was inducted into the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha honor society. While a dermatology resident at Columbia University in New York City, she won the Conrad Stritzler award of the New York Dermatologic Society and was published in The New England Journal of Medicine. Dr. Tareen then completed a procedural fellowship which focused on dermatologic surgery, laser, and cosmetic dermatology.

There are 13 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.

This article has been viewed 122,914 times.

Acne is caused by hormonal fluctuations that stimulate your skin’s production of oil. This oil plugs hair follicles, producing the blackheads, pimples, and redness we know as acne. Between 70 and 87 percent of teenagers experience acne, and adults often cope with this skin condition, as well — so if you’re searching for ways to reduce the appearance of your skin blemishes, you’re far from alone. [1] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source Most pharmaceutical treatments take a few weeks to become effective, so while you should talk with your doctor about long-term treatment, these are not tactics to reduce redness fast. [2] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source Fortunately, in the meantime you can utilize a wide variety of options to quickly reduce acne redness.

How to Get Rid of Acne Naturally

This article was co-authored by Lisa Bryant, ND and by wikiHow staff writer, Eric McClure. Dr. Lisa Bryant is Licensed Naturopathic Physician and natural medicine expert based in Portland, Oregon. She earned a Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine from the National College of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon and completed her residency in Naturopathic Family Medicine there in 2014.

There are 16 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.

wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, several readers have written to tell us that this article was helpful to them, earning it our reader-approved status.

This article has been viewed 1,498,966 times.

Acne is an incredibly common skin condition caused by skin oil and dead skin, although there is likely a genetic component as well. [1] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source While it may feel a little embarrassing, it’s really nothing to worry about. Millions of people experience acne every year, and it’s especially common for teenagers. Keep in mind that acne is not a permanent condition and you can usually deal with it naturally, even if it takes a little more effort and attention than prescription medications. Keep in mind, if your acne keeps getting worse, begins spreading, or starts causing you pain, go see a dermatologist to determine if there are better options available.

Acne: Causes, Symptoms, Treatments & Prevention Tips

This blog post is based on scientific evidence, written and fact checked by our doctors.

Our team of dermatologists and formulators strive to be objective, unbiased and honest.

This article contains scientific references. The numbers in the parentheses are clickable links to research papers from reputed academic organizations.

Acne is something anybody would avoid, if one had a choice. Apart from uneven skin texture, it is infamous for contributing to emotional distress. However, acne can be successfully treated with the right medication and remedies. It is always ideal to consult an expert or professional, especially when your acne is severe. Acne can also cause scarring, which should be addressed only after a person’s active acne is under control. This article talks about what may be the cause of your acne and the various ways in which you can try to get rid of them.

Highlights:

1. What Is Acne?

Pores blocked by oil, bacteria and dead skin cells develop into zits on some people’s skin repeatedly. These can be termed ‘acne’.

People often confuse acne to be pimple outbreaks on the face. However, acne can develop anywhere on the body. They can be seen in various forms such as pimples, blackheads and whiteheads.

Inflammatory acne can cause scarring. These include nodules (solid lumps below the surface of your skin), papules (small, raised, red bumps), pustules (puss-filled tips on red bumps) and cysts (large puss-filled lumps found beneath the skin).

Acne occurs when the sebaceous glands attached to the hair follicles are stimulated and they end up producing excess sebum. It may also occur due to clogged pores.

2. What Causes Acne?

There is no one reason for a person to develop acne. You may experience it due to hormonal changes, genes, certain medications like birth control pills or diets high in refined sugars and carbohydrates.

A. Hormonal Changes

Hormonal changes can result in oily skin, which causes clogged pores. Hormonal changes that contribute to acne include pregnancy, puberty, a woman’s menstrual cycle, birth control pills and stress. (1)

B. Stress

Studies suggest that stress contributes to acne. Research also indicates that the severity of acne reduces with relaxation therapy. (2)

C. Diet

According to some studies, what you eat can affect your skin health. Diets high in carbohydrates can cause acne. (3) However, the American Academy of Dermatology says there is no direct relationship between your diet and acne. (4)

D. Genes

Your genes are a key factor in determining your skin-type. If most of your family members have oily skin, it is likely you have it too. Oily skin can lead to clogged pores. This can result in acne.Genetic predisposition of acne is proven and plays a vital role in the severity and type of acne you can get.(5)

E. Climate

Humid climates can stimulate oil production in the body. Hot climates can dehydrate your skin. This leads to excess sebum production in the body. (6)

Signs And Symptoms Of Acne

White, red and black bumps or puss-filled zits on parts of your body is usually a sign of acne. Acne can occur anywhere on your body.

3.Types Of Acne

Acne can be categorized into inflammatory and non-inflammatory:

Inflammatory

A. Papules

A papule is a red/pink raised bump on the skin. It is typically less than a centimeter round. A papule doesn’t have a pus-filled center. (7)

B. Pustules

A pustule is a defined bump on the skin with a white or yellow pus-filled center. The base of the bump is usually pink or red.

C. Nodules

A nodule can be defined as a large, painful and inflamed lump. Nodules form deep within the skin. They are a result of broken tissues deep beneath the skin’s surface. They do not have a center and look like larger papules.

D. Cysts

A cyst is the most severe form of acne. It is a large bump on the skin with a pus-filled center. It can cause scarring because they are situated deep within the layers of the skin.

Non-Inflammatory Acne

A. Whiteheads

A whitehead or a ‘closed comedone’ is a tiny whitish bump on the skin. A hair follicle may show up in the center of the bump sometimes. This type of acne usually does not cause scarring.

B. Blackheads

A blackhead or an ‘open comedone’ is a tiny, black colored bump on the skin. Blackheads are not the result of trapped dirt. They are just whiteheads that have opened.

4. How To Get Rid Of Acne?

Medical Procedures

A. Laser Therapy

Over the last few years, laser and light treatments have become popular to treat several skin conditions.

Laser treatment may be recommended by your dermatologist to address your acne concerns. The therapy targets increased sebaceous gland activity and reduces inflammation. (8) It resurfaces the skin by removing its top layer.

B. Chemical Peel

A chemical peel acts as an exfoliator. It resurfaces the skin by removing the top layer to regenerate normal skin. (9)

Your dermatologist may recommend a superficial, medium or deep peel depending on the severity and type of acne.

C. Microdermabrasion

Microdermabrasion uses a small hand-held device to remove the top layer of the skin. It can be done in-office or at home. In-office microdermabrasion involves deeper exfoliation.

Microdermabrasion is used to remove dead skin cells and renew the texture and tone of the skin. Research indicates that microdermabrasion has a positive effect on improving acne. (10)

D. Isotretinoin

Isotretinoin is a form of Vitamin A. It is used to treat severe cystic and inflammatory acne.

Prolonged usage often results in permanent clearance of acne.

Isotretinoin reduces sebum production and has anti-inflammatory properties. (11) Your dermatologist may recommend a low or high dosage depending on the severity of your acne.

Side effects of using Isotretinoin include dry skin, hair loss, cracked lips, nausea, weight loss, change in nail and skin texture. It can also result in some serious side effects like bone softening, vision changes, inflammation of liver or pancreas and depression.

If you’re pregnant or plan to conceive, do not consume Isotretinoin.

E. Antibiotics

Oral antibiotics have been used to treat acne for over 40 years. Their anti-inflammatory properties are effective in improving acne. (12) Your dermatologist may recommend oral antibiotics along with a topical medication.

Antibiotics should not be used for too long to prevent resistance.

F. Steroid Injections

Cortisone shots provide relief to inflamed areas of the body. They are sometimes used to treat acne.

This procedure involves injecting a diluted Corticosteroid directly into the zit (pustule, cyst). Your dermatologist may or may not numb the affected area.

Results can be seen within 24 hours.

These shots are not meant to be used as a regular treatment for acne. They can result in pitting of the skin that may take up to six months to go away and sometimes are permanent.

Cortisone shots are not a permanent solution for acne. They do not prevent future breakouts from taking place. A daily acne treatment is recommended if your skin is prone to breakouts.

Over The Counter Medications

A. Benzoyl Peroxide

Topical forms of Benzoyl peroxide are used to treat mild to moderate acne. It has anti-inflammatory properties that can help treat acne. (13)

However, it can cause dryness, stinging and tingling sensations.

B. Salicylic Acid

Salicylic acid is a peeling agent. It has anti-inflammatory properties that decrease skin lipids. This contributes in treating acne. (14)

C. Azelaic Acid

Topical forms of Azelaic acid are used to treat acne. It helps to reduce swelling and bumps by killing bacteria causing acne. (15) Azelaic acid should be used as prescribed by your dermatologist.

Side effects of Azelaic acid include itching, burning, dryness, redness and tenderness.

Some of the rare side effects of azelaic acid include:

D. Sulfur

Sulfur has been a treatment for acne since hundreds of years. It has antibacterial properties that reduce swelling and bacteria causing acne in the skin. (16) However, it is known to dry up the skin. Topical forms include creams, lotions and foams.

E. Topical Retinoids

Experts refer to topical retinoids as the ‘core of topical therapy’. This is because they are anti-inflammatory, reduce comedones and maintain clear skin. (17)

Topical retinoids play a vital role in treating acne and maintaining clear skin post treatment.

Side effects may include redness, itching, burning and dryness.

Home Remedies To Treat Acne

Acne ideally should be treated by a professional. However, an economical approach is to use home remedies. These remedies have traditionally been used by people.

A. Tea Tree Oil

Studies indicate that tea tree oil products can significantly improve mild to moderate acne. (16)

Tea tree oil is a widely used ingredient in anti-acne products. It has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. (18) This helps reduce inflammatory acne lesions.

B. Honey And Cinnamon

Honey has been used as a therapeutic remedy for years. It is used to treat a variety of skin disorders from dry skin to acne prone skin. Honey has antibacterial properties. It can contribute to reducing acne and helps soothe the skin. (19)

Cinnamon has antimicrobial properties that can help reduce bacteria and inflammatory lesions in the skin.

Try This:

Honey and Cinnamon Mask

Honey and cinnamon have anti-inflammatory properties that help fight bacteria and reduce inflammation. Making a honey-cinnamon mask is no task. 2 tablespoons of honey and one of cinnamon is all you need. Make sure the paste is thick enough, as this can get a bit messy at times!

C. Turmeric

Apart from adding flavor to your food, turmeric has traditionally been used to treat acne. It exhibits anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. (20) This can help reduce inflammation and bacteria.

Try This:

Take half a tablespoon of turmeric powder. Add warm water and honey to it. Mix well to form a paste. Apply it to the affected area and gently wash it off after 15-20 minutes.

D. Neem Oil

Studies show that neem oil has antibacterial properties and is a good, prolonged treatment for acne. (21)

E. Baking Soda

Although used traditionally, there is no scientific evidence that baking soda works for acne. However, some people use it as an ingredient in mixtures to treat their acne vulgaris.

Baking soda can be teamed with lemon, honey, apple cider vinegar, yogurt or just water. You can make a paste using these secondary ingredients and apply it to the affected area.

5. How Can You Prevent Acne?

More often than not, people forget to follow basic skincare tips. It is always essential for you to follow a basic skincare routine to keep your skin clean and breathing.

15 Ways to Get Rid of Acne

Your skin is your largest organ, and it does a lot more than simply prevent you from spilling out all over the place. Skin cells are constantly replacing themselves, making a journey from the inner edge of your epidermis (your skin’s outermost layer) to the outside of your skin. As a skin cell ages and approaches the skin’s surface, the dying cell flattens out. Once on the surface, it joins countless other dead skin cells and forms a protective layer that helps protect you from bacteria and viruses.

Inside your hair follicles, there are small glands producing oil called sebum. This oil mixes with skin cells in the follicle and joins them on the journey outward. But when there’s too much sebum, too many dead skin cells or something on the surface that blocks their exit from the follicle, a blockage can occur. Bacteria joins the party, and the result is acne vulgaris, the most common form of acne.

So what can we do to get rid of acne? Let’s talk more that instinctual response next.

15: Keep Your Hands Off Your Face

Here’s a simple tip: If you want the skin on your face to look lovely, stop touching it.

Sounds easy, right? Well, good luck with that. Most of us aren’t aware of how often we touch our faces. We relieve itches, wipe our lips and scratch our ears. Once you pay attention to how often you paw at your face, you may feel downright feral.

Hands are the body’s primary tool to interact directly with the world around us. There’s plenty of blame to go around, but the world is pretty dirty. Sweat, grime and oil (not to mention bacteria and viruses) spread from person to person through use of frequently touched surfaces like door knobs, store counters and gas station pump handles.

Needlessly touching your face at some point in the day is inevitable, so try to wash your hands throughout the day as well.

Speaking of washing, let’s move on to our next tip.

14: Wash Your Skin Twice a Day

Taking a moment to thoroughly (but gently) wash your face is one of the simplest and most effective ways to prevent breakouts. Grime and grease build up on your face all day, and residue from cigarette smoke, air pollution and daily living winds up there, too.

Next, we’ll learn about an activity that gets your hormones in order.

13: Work Up a Sweat

Stress prompts your skin to crank up oil production, so anything you can do to reduce stress (taking a yoga class, for example) helps with breakouts. Working out also restores order to fluctuating hormone levels, which in turn reduces sebum production in the follicles.

But unless you want to undo all the benefits that a healthy sweat gives your skin, you should pay attention to the next page.

12: Loosen Up When You’re Working Out

We’re all familiar with acne on our faces, but some of us break out pretty much anywhere on our bodies. One major cause of this is acne mechanica, a form of acne caused by friction, heat, and constant contact between skin and clothing or athletic gear. Headbands and helmets are likely to cause acne on the hairline, and chin straps will leave their mark as well. If you have athletic gear that rubs against your skin, try loosening it up or removing it during those times it’s not in use.

Many jogging suits or yoga outfits can cause acne problems as well. This is usually because they’re too snug-fitting or made of synthetic fibers. Switch to looser-fitting clothes made of cotton, and you should soon start to see an improvement in your skin.

11: Don’t Forget to Shower

Perhaps the only thing that feels better than going to the gym is leaving it. With that post-workout endorphin high still lingering, it’s easy to wrap up a workout, go home and find a comfortable place to collapse. But when you get comfy making dinner or checking your e-mail, you’re forgetting something important.

If your pores are already clogged, what can you do? See the next page and find out.

10: Buy Some Benzoyl Peroxide

Many people who have had trouble with acne have gotten good results from using benzoyl peroxide. Although prescription versions are available (mostly for cleansers or lotions), most products with benzoyl peroxide can be obtained over the counter.

There are a number of products available, but most involve a cream or gel that is applied to broken-out portions of the face. Benzoyl peroxide kills the P. acnes bacteria that causes inflammation in a blocked pore. It may take about three weeks for results to occur, so be patient.

Benzoyl peroxide not doing it for you? See the next page for another substance that might come in handy.

9: Stock Up on Salicylic Acid

Though it doesn’t kill bacteria or have any effect upon sebum production, salicylic acid can be useful in your efforts to get rid of acne. Salicylic acid causes your skin to shed its outermost layer. By getting rid of this layer of dead skin cells, your skin will be better able to keep pores nice and clear of blockages.

Now you know what to put on your face to make it better. But what should you be taking off of it?

8: Take a Look at Your Makeup

When you’re looking for the cause of your acne breakouts, you might want to consider your makeup. Makeup alone doesn’t necessarily cause breakouts, but it certainly doesn’t help. In some cases, people may notice a significant increase in facial blemishes when wearing a certain brand or type of makeup. If this is the case, switch brands or select products labeled «oil-free» or «noncomedogenic.» Give it a few weeks to see if there’s any difference. This definitely takes patience, which isn’t always in such large supply when our skin is waging war against us. But it’s worth it to switch out products (and behaviors) methodically, keeping track of what works and what doesn’t.

Regardless of what type of makeup you wear, always wash it off when your day is finished. Leaving makeup on overnight is a good way to make sure you’ll need more of it when you wake up.

If you’ve followed all our tips so far and your acne still hasn’t cleared up, you might need to take a hint from the next page.

7: Ask for Antibiotics

If over-the-counter treatments don’t work, you may need to bump it up a notch and try antibiotics. These medications damage or destroy bacteria, helping the body battle infections great and small. When used to treat acne, antibiotics (which are available in pill or topical form) kill the P. acnes bacterium, thus helping to reduce existing inflammation while preventing future bacterial growth through continued use. Tetracycline is commonly prescribed for acne, and it works by taking away the bacteria’s ability to produce proteins.

There’s another pill that might help some of us with acne. Read on to find out what it is.

6: Consider Birth Control Pills

Women who are dealing with acne can look to an unconventional source of relief: birth control pills. Not only can oral contraceptives help regulate menstrual cycles and prevent pregnancy, a prescription for these once-a-day pills may also be your ticket to clearer skin.

There are drawbacks, however. For one, there’s no guarantee it will work. Also, anyone on birth control pills runs the risk of potential side effects, from headache to nausea to high blood pressure. Women with certain health conditions (heart diseases and trouble with blood clots, for example) shouldn’t take oral contraceptives at all.

If you’re not into hormone treatments, we have a more natural remedy on the next page.

5: Manage Stress (and Sebum)

If you’re not careful, all this worrying about acne is going to give you acne. Many people notice a link between feeling stressed out and experiencing acne breakouts. Some stress behaviors certainly contribute to bad skin: lack of exercise, nervously touching your face, not bathing or maintaining proper hygiene and maybe even poor diet (researchers go back and forth on diet’s role in acne).

Even if you have your stress levels in check, you might have acne that just hasn’t responded to any of the treatments we’ve listed. What else might help? See the next page.

4: Try Isotretinoin

Occasionally, people will find that no matter how hard they try, common treatments such as salicylic acid don’t produce the hoped-for results. Fortunately, there’s a stronger oral medication available that your doctor can prescribe to you: isotretinoin.

Isotretinoin is known by a variety of brand names (Accutane, for one), and it’s been proven to be effective for treating severe acne. Interestingly, nobody is quite sure why isotretinoin works to reduce acne, but it’s believed that it reduces the amount of sebum production. For some people, this drug will end their association with acne forever more; for others, it may significantly reduce the number and intensity of future outbreaks. While there’s no guarantee it will work at all, isotretinoin’s anti-acne effects are usually achieved after four to five months of treatment.

On the next page, learn about a rather surprising acne treatment.

3: Follow the Light (and the Heat)

Some acne treatments require significantly more hardware than others. Various forms of low-intensity light (colored blue, red, green-yellow or a combination) seem to be effective in killing the P. acnes bacteria. This is helpful in treating acne because when pores get partially or fully clogged, bacteria on the scene is attracted to the blockage and then multiplies, causing inflammation. By using a wandlike device, a doctor can painlessly apply the light treatments, which are only effective for as long as the treatments continue. There’s a chance of mild skin irritation, but otherwise there are no side effects.

Using a special heat wand, a doctor can treat your acne in a similar fashion as through light treatment. However, instead of eradicating bacteria, the use of heat shrinks the size of the sebaceous glands. This results in less sebum production, and, with any luck, less acne.

Let’s say your acne is gone, but you still have scars as mementos. What can you do? See the next page.