treatment at home can help reduce acne flare-ups. wash your face (or other affected skin ) gently one or two times a day. do not squeeze pimples because that often leads to infections worse acne and scars. use water-based skin care products that gently clean your skin. avoid products such as milky cleansers cold creams lipsticks and lip glosses that contain oils. use over-the-counter medicated creams soaps lotions and gels to treat your acne. always read the label carefully to make sure you are using the product correctly. examples of some over-the-counter products used to treat acne include: benzoyl peroxide (such as brevoxyl or benzac ) which unplugs pores. alpha-hydroxy acid which dries up blemishes and causes the top skin layer to peel. you'll find alpha-hydroxy acid in some moisturizers cleansers eye creams and sunscreens. salicylic acid (propa ph or stridex) which dries up blemishes and causes the top skin layer to peel. tea tree oil which kills bacteria. you'll find tea tree oil in some gels creams and oils. other products that may help your overall skin condition include skin pore-cleaning strips. when you peel these sticky strips off your skin dirt and/or makeup is removed by the strip. you'll have better results if you follow the directions for using topical medicines. if you use a product too often acne can get worse. webmd medical reference from healthwise this information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information. © 1995-2011 healthwise incorporated. healthwise healthwise for every health decision and the healthwise logo are trademarks of healthwise incorporated.
what can i do to treat acne vulgaris at home?