As teenagers or even adults, most of us have experienced some form of acne at some point in our lives.

It’s a myth that only people with oily skin get acne; acne can rear its ugly head at any time due to stress, poor diet, certain medications, or hormonal imbalances—regardless of your skin type.

Don’t believe false advertising. There is no miracle product or treatment that can cure acne and acne-related scars overnight. But we’re here to help! Follow these 9 steps for improved skin in just a few weeks.

The first step to more beautiful skin is identifying your skin type. You may think you already know your skin type, but your skin changes throughout your life, and while you may have had oily skin during your teen years, you may now have drier or more sensitive skin that needs different care and products from what you have been using for years. Choosing skin care that is right for your skin type but won’t aggravate your acne or cause breakouts can be tricky, but we’ve found your new essential daily products.

Normal skin

Normal skin is neither oily nor dry and appears smooth with minimal pores and an even tone. If you’re one of the lucky people with this skin type, your acne may be stress or hormone-related and your skin is better suited to tolerate topical acne treatments. Avoid using too many skin products daily, which may upset the natural balance of your skin.

Recommended products – Philosophy Purity Made Simple, Garnier Grape Extract Toner, Biotherm Aquasource moisturizer.

Oily skin

Oily skin has large pores and produces too much oil, which gives it a greasy, shiny appearance. While it may be tempting to use strong mattifying products to cut down the shininess, you’ll actually make it worse by doing so. Stripping the skin of its natural oils tells the skin it needs to produce even more oil to replace the lost oil, so choosing the right products is essential to keep the shine at bay. Regularly spritz tea tree oil water on your face during the day and don’t skip moisturizer—your skin may be oily but it still needs to be kept hydrated.

Recommended products – Dermalogica Dermal Clay Cleanser, Lush Tea Tree Water Spray, Philosophy Hope In A Jar Moisturizer (oil free).

Combination skin

If your skin is oily in the T-zone and dry-to-normal in the cheeks, you have combination skin. This is the most common skin type, yet most people don’t know how to properly care for it. Often, strong stripping cleansers used to tackle the oily T-zone are used across the entire face, which worsens the condition of dry-to-normal cheeks. Combination skin tends to get acne breakouts in the T-zone, and as this is fairly oily skin it can withstand stronger acne treatments. Use treatments with caution, however, as this skin type also tends to scar easily.

Recommended products – La Roche-Posey Tolerance Dermo-Cleanser, Bioderma Sebium Micellar Water Toner, Korres Yoghurt Cream.

Dry skin

This skin type is flaky and fragile and tends to stretch and leave you with a tight feeling after cleansing. Using harsh acne products or greasy moisturizers can exacerbate your skin condition, so stick to cream cleansers and gentle, alcohol-free products to keep your acne and dry skin under control.

Recommended products – Clarins Cleansing Milk with Gentian, Neutrogena Alcohol-Free Toner, Aveeno Colloidal Oatmeal Daily Moisturizing lotion.

Sensitive skin

Does your skin tingle or burn when you use new products? Do you find yourself prone to acne but over-the-counter products tend to worsen the situation? Does your skin often feel tight after washing it? You have sensitive skin and need to use the mildest products available. Fragrances can also aggravate your skin, so look for sulfate-free, fragrance-free products designed specifically for sensitive facial skin.

Recommended products – Nuxe Gentle Pureness Cleansing milk with 3 Roses, Bioderma Sensibio toner, REN Hydra-Calm Global Protection Day Cream for Sensitive Skin.

It may come as a surprise, but you’ve probably been washing your face incorrectly for most of your life. Follow this simple regime twice daily using the products recommended for your skin type to banish acne for good.

THE ROUTINE: should be performed in the morning and then again in the evening. 10 to 12 hours apart.

Step 1: Cleanse

• Splash your face with warm water or run warm water gently over your face in the shower, without actually touching your face.

• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap.

• Dispense your cleanser into your hands and create a generous lather with your hands.

• Gently wash your face with the lather and your bare hands for 10 seconds or less. Do not scrub or use a washcloth or other cleansing device.

• Lightly splash your face and neck with lukewarm water until the cleanser is completely rinsed away.

• Once your moisturizer has absorbed you can apply your makeup if you so desire. Now that you know how to care for your skin on a daily basis, you need to identify the type of acne and scarring you have to supplement your regular routine with specific acne care.

• Pat clean tissue on your face to absorb the water on your skin barely touching your face with the tissue. Never rub or wipe your skin dry.

Step 2: Tone

• Apply a toner for your skin type while your face is still slightly damp. Use a cotton ball to do this and do not touch your skin with your hands.

• Allow your skin to air dry for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and dry them with a clean towel or tissues.

Step 3: Treat

• With clean hands, gently apply a *25% solution of Benzoyl Peroxide on any acne-affected areas. Do not rub the cream in, but simply glide over skin and allow it to absorb on its own.

• *25% Benzoyl Peroxide is available over-the-counter in most pharmacies. Do not use any other acne treatment products along with Benzoyl Peroxide.

Step 4: Moisturize

• Wash and dry your hands once again.

• Dispense a teaspoon-sized amount of moisturizer and apply to your face gently with your fingertips, much like you applied the Benzoyl Peroxide. Do not rub, simply glide on lightly and let your skin take its time to absorb it. It’s best if you use a moisturizer that contains SPF rather than another layer of sunscreen.

Once your moisturizer has absorbed you can apply your makeup if you so desire. Now that you know how to care for your skin on a daily basis, you need to identify the type of acne and scarring you have to supplement your regular routine with specific acne care.

Understanding what may be causing your particular type of acne and scarring can help you form better habits, find specialist treatments, and prevent future breakouts and skin damage.

	Whiteheads and blackheads You’re just a normal person, zits happen to everyone. Keep up your skincare regime and keep a vial of tea tree oil handy to dab onto new pimples if they come up. Regular monthly facials can also keep whiteheads and blackheads at bay and prevent future breakouts.
	Hormonal acne Menstrual acne is due to hormonal changes and can affect a large number of women. These breakouts tend to be around the chin and jawline area and occur a week to 10 days before your period. Enlist the help of your ob-gyn or endocrinologist who can prescribe birth-control pills or other medication.
	Papules If you’ve got small, tender red bumps that aren’t filled with pus, you’ve got papules. Consult a dermatologist and use a mild pharmaceutical cleanser such as Cetaphil instead of your regular cleanser for your daily cleansing regime. Squeezing papules will cause permanent scarring so don’t pick at your skin.
	Pustules The classic zit. Everyone gets these once in a way, just leave it alone and it will go away in a few days.
	Rosacea If you have chronic breakouts all over your face with multiple pustules accompanied by a red rash, you probably have rosacea. Stop using all products and over-the-counter treatments and see your dermatologist for specialist care. You may be prescribed a mild antibiotic such as Doxycycline or more intensive medications such as Accutane.
	Cystic acne Large lumps just under the surface of the skin are a type of inflamed acne called cysts. These painful bumps rarely come to a head, and often take weeks or months to subside. If you suffer from cystic acne, a dermatologist can help by injecting cortisone into the lumps to flatten them. Deep cysts may need to be surgically excised but this can be done under local anesthesia with minimal pain and no downtime.

 

 

Depending on the type, color, severity and texture of your acne scars, there are different approaches to treating them. Identifying which type of scars you get from your acne can help you find the right cure for clear, smooth skin free from discoloration.

Boxcar scars

If you have multiple round or oval depressions that give your skin a pitted look, you have boxcar scars. Boxcar scars can be treated by a plastic surgeon or specialist dermatologist with dermal fillers, laser resurfacing or punch excisions.

Icepick scars

Ice pick scars are very deep, narrow scars that make the skin appear to have been ‘pierced’ by a sharp instrument that created a small, deep ‘hole’ in the skin. Ice-pick scars do not clear up on their own and need to be treated by a dermatologist who can perform a punch excision or punch graft to close up the ‘holes’ created by this kind of scarring.

Rolling scars

If your scars tend to resemble waves or rolls of skin, they’re rolling scars which can be treated with subcision by a dermatologist.

Keloid scars

Keloid scars appear as raised skin with a firm mass. They can often be rather large but can be treated by a dermatologist with steroid creams or injections to soften the tissue.

Discoloration

Known as ‘Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation’ in medical terms, these are temporary brown or pink marks left after acne lesions. These discolourations are not accompanied by pitting or depressions in the skin- they are simply a change in skin color. They take 3 to 24 months to fade without treatment depending on how dark the scars are compared to your skin color. Wear higher SPF than usual, use products that contain glycolic acid and ask your doctor to prescribe a lightening cream to speed up fading.

Read on to see what small changes in your lifestyle can lead to clearer, more glowing skin.

Take vitamins

Beauty isn’t just skin deep. Taking essential vitamins can equip your body to fight free radicals, infections and fade scars from the inside out.

Vitamin C can help to flush out harmful toxins and promote cell renewal to help fade scars. Make it a daily habit to squeeze half a lemon into a glass of water or a whole lemon into a litre of water and drink first thing in the morning or alternatively, sip throughout the day.

Vitamin E, in oil capsule form, can be applied topically to scarred skin to help fade acne scars. Simply prick a capsule and apply the oil directly to the affected area twice a day until the scars fade. Vitamin E capsules can also be taken orally to aid healing.

Deficiencies in Zinc can actually cause acne, so make sure you’re getting enough. Zinc helps to deliver Vitamin A into your skin and by regulating your body’s hormonal balance. Take a supplement of 50mg of Zinc daily to prevent further breakouts and to help speed up the fading of existing scars.

		Exercise Exercising at least 3 times a week won’t just work up a sweat and keep you fit, but also helps your body flush out acne-causing toxins. Using the steam room or the sauna can also open up your pores and sweat more allowing your skin to cleanse itself. If you think your workouts may actually be causing you to break out, here’s how to prevent it: Acne Wipeout!: 5 ways to prevent post-workout breakouts
		Hydrate Drinking at least 2 litres of water a day can speed the healing process of your scars. Green tea is also ideal for aiding the natural healing of acne, so try to swap your daily coffee for green tea instead.

Improve your nutrition

By cutting saturated fats and dairy from your diet and replacing them with skin boosting omega-3 oils and fats from lean meats, nuts and seeds you can get your your skin glowing while improving your health. Eating as many dark green leafy vegetables and at least one fruit a day can also make for impressive improvements in the quality of your skin. If you suffer from hormonal acne, a low-sugar diet can be beneficial to help keep your breakouts under control.

It’s understandably annoying to get a zit just before a big event or out of the blue. Try not to panic and adhere to these critical tips to clear your skin in a few days without any scarring.

Don’t touch

It’s natural to want to try to ‘flatten’ the pimple and then cover it up with some makeup for the illusion of flawless skin. But you’ll only do more damage in the long run and could potentially permanently scar your face. Instead, leave the zit alone and allow it to clear on it’s own without scrubbing, picking at, squeezing or touching it.

Try icing

Holding an ice cube wrapped in a soft cloth to the zit can help it come to a head more quickly and reduce redness. Do not apply any pressure while doing this, and try to repeat the process a few times a day until the pimple resolves itself.

Use a spot treatment

Applying diluted tea tree oil with a cotton bud only to the site of the pimple, and carefully avoiding surrounding skin, can help to dry it out quicker. Dabbing a white clay mask on the zit and leaving it to dry overnight can also help. You can also try an over-the-counter spot treatment, but make sure to do a skin patch test first to ensure it won’t further irritate your skin.

Adopt aloe vera

Whether or not you use a spot treatment it’s important to continue to keep your skin hydrated with a moisturizer that won’t clog your pores further, has antiseptic qualities and aids healing. Using 100% aloe vera gel on a new pimple can cool the skin, minimise itching and redness and prevent scarring from occurring.

Go barefaced

It’s tempting to want to hide behind make-up when your skin isn’t at it’s best but try to avoid wearing makeup when you have a breakout. Makeup can further clog pores and reduce the effectiveness of spot treatments. If you have to wear makeup, skip the foundation and use concealer just where you need it.

Prefer to use natural remedies in the comfort of your home rather than store-bought acne solutions? We’ve got a few easy recipes for you to try to help keep acne at bay.

Clarifying egg white mask

Egg whites contain albumin and lysozyme, which can keep the acne virus in check and fight bacterial growth in addition to shrinking pores and removing excess oil from the skin. With regular use egg whites can also help fade acne scars.

Using an egg white mask once weekly can greatly improve the condition of acne-prone oily and combination skin. As egg white can be rather drying, this mask isn’t suited to dry skin types.

To prepare the mask, simply break an egg and separate the white from the yolk into it’s own bowl. Add one teaspoon of milk and half a teaspoon of honey to the egg white and mix well. Using clean fingers, evenly spread the mask onto your face carefully avoiding the mouth and eyes. Leave the mask on for 30 minutes before removing the mask by gently splashing warm water onto your face. Lightly pat skin dry, barely touching your face as you do so.

Scar-fading potato and lemon masks

Potato juice and lemon juice have been shown to greatly fade scars and marks- even burn scars-over time, while promoting an even complexion. Used weekly over 3 months you can expect a dramatic improvement in the appearance of dark discolourations.

Simply skin a potato and then grate a small amount of potato flesh to apply directly to the scar site for 15 minutes, or cut a lemon in half and apply lemon juice directly to the scar.

Try them both and see what works best for you. well. Using clean fingers, evenly spread the mask onto your face carefully avoiding the mouth and eyes. Leave the mask on for 30 minutes before removing the mask by gently splashing warm water onto your face. Lightly pat skin dry, barely touching your face as you do so.

Blackhead fighting tomato mask

Tomatoes are a natural antibacterial acne and blackhead fighter that aids in minimizing pores, lightening skin and reducing oiliness. It can take months before you see visible benefits from using a tomato face mask once a month but this gentle, inexpensive mask can be used by all skin types and is easy on the wallet.

Simply cut a tomato in half and gently rub the pulp onto your face. Leave to dry for 20 minutes and then rinse off with splashes of warm water.

Acne clearing apple cider vinegar treatment

Apple cider vinegar is a powerful natural cleanser that can help balance your skin’s pH levels, ensuring that acne-causing bacteria doesn’t thrive. Using apple cider vinegar twice a week can help clear and clarify your skin and minimize existing scars.

Simply dilute one part apple cider vinegar to equal parts water and use a clean cotton ball to dab the mixture all over your face or on problem areas. Leave to dry on skin for 30 minutes and then rinse off with splashes of warm water.

You can also pre-mix apple cider vinegar and water and store it in a plastic spray bottle for easy future use.

Zit-zapping Zinc spot treatment

Zinc can help to alleviate swelling and irritation on acne-riddled skin in addition to being effective at fading fresh scars. Using zinc won’t work on old acne scars but crushing a zinc oxide tablet together with a few drops of water and applying directly onto a fresh scar or pimple can quicken the healing process and stop scarring in it’s tracks.

If you’re doing everything right and have ruled out a health issue but are still suffering from severe scarring, it may be time to try cosmetic solutions.

Facials

Getting a regular medical facial once a month can be the key to purging your skin and keeping blackheads, whiteheads and pustules from re-occuring. Make sure you ask for a facial with extractions to make sure your pores have been thoroughly cleaned. Certain types of acne may actually be aggravated by a facial so be sure to ask your dermatologist if it’s right for you.

Chemical peels

Liquid nitrogen or glycolic peels can greatly reduce the appearance of scars and smooth skin by stimulating skin and pushing the acne to the surface, which makes it easier to treat. Chemical peels also aid in reducing the appearance of scars and promote skin renewal to assist in faster healing times.
With minimal downtime- requiring only a few hours out of the sun, a program of chemical peels can be performed by your dermatologist over the weekend.

Your skin will peel a great deal after a treatment but never peel your skin off after a peel as it can lead to further scarring.

Lasers

CO2 laser

Best known for reducing scars, the CO2 laser is best used to treat discoloured skin.

Fraxel laser

There are two types of lasers in the Fraxel range, the Repair and the Restore. Fraxel Repair is the more aggressive of the two and requires a week or more of downtime but fewer sessions, while the Restore is a more gentle laser that requires only a few days of downtime but more sessions to achieve the same effects as more aggressive lasers. The Fraxel laser is a resurfacing tool that can treat discolourations as well as boxcar scars but can also improve the appearance of other types of acne-scarred skin.

V-Beam and Smooth Beam lasers

The V-Beam laser reduces skin redness and stimulates collagen renewal helping to smooth the skin and give you an even complexion. Used in combination with the Smooth Beam laser, that works by plumping up deeply indented scars, these lasers can vastly improve the condition of skin scarred by cystic acne and rosacea.

Microdermabrasion

By removing the upper layers of your dermis, microdermabrasion is like an incredibly deep exfoliating treatment that sloughs off skin to reveal newer, fresher layers of skin underneath. A regular course of microdermabrasion sessions performed by a dermatologist can improve the appearance of mildly scarred skin.

Lightening

If you have discoloured skin that appear as scars after your acne has cleared, you may only need to be prescribed a medical grade de-pigmenting cream. Creams such as Depiwhite can even out your skin tone and eradicate scars in just a few months.

Excision

Deep cysts, rolling scars, icepick scars and boxcar scars can all be treated by an excision performed by a dermatologist. An area slightly wider than the site of the scar or cyst will be removed with a medical instrument called a ‘punch’ before 2 to 3 small stiches are put in. Stiches are removed after a week and leave barely visible skin-coloured scars.

Cortisone injections

Large cysts can be flattened literally overnight with a trip to the dermatologist for a cortisone injection. These are rarely covered by health insurance so they can be an expensive habit if you get cysts often. Make sure that the injections are performed by a board-certified dermatologist as if they’re done too deep or too much cortisone is injected they can lead to a depression in the skin that may take months to ‘fill in’ again.

Fillers

Injectable fillers such as Restylane and Rejuvenol can be used to temporarily plump up facial skin for 3 months for up to a year. Fillers can improve the appearance of icepick, boxcar and rolling scars by filling in pitted areas and the ‘holes’ created by acne.

Although it’s hard not to want to cover your skin up when you’ve got a break-out, wearing make-up can actually worsen your condition. Read on to find the right type.

It’s best to go bare-faced until you achieve clear skin, but if you need to cover up- less is more. Try to skip foundation and use just concealer where you need it, or opt for breathable mineral makeup or an oil-free tinted moisturizer. With the right daily care, products and treatments your skin you’ll be well on your way to perfect skin in just a few weeks.

Recommended products: Bare Minerals Powder Foundation, Clinique’s Instant Relief Mineral Powder, Laura Mercier Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer, MAC Studio Finish concealer