About 85% of people will experience acne during their teen or adult years – 85%!! On this planet of billions, that’s A LOT of people. This fact can be hard to believe, though, since movies, shows, and social media are filled with filtered images of impossibly clear skin. Whether you’re on team “get rid of my acne now” or team “embrace my acne,” it’s good to know that you’re not alone. And, with some patience, acne can be treated. Finding the right treatment early is the key to reducing acne severity and preventing scars and painful cysts.  

How to get rid of acne

Find the right treatment

The most crucial part of treating acne is to find the right treatment for YOUR acne. Over-the-counter, FDA-approved acne treatments contain either salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, or sulfur. Benzoyl peroxide addresses most of the issues that cause acne, but its potent side-effects make it difficult to tolerate for many people, especially those with sensitive skin. Salicylic acid has antibacterial properties and unclogs pores, which makes it ideal for both treating acne and preventing future breakouts. Sulfur reduces oil and unclogs pores, but it may cause excessive drying of the skin and have an unpleasant odor.

Dermala combines salicylic acid with the Dermala SE Microbiome Complex to unclog pores, reduce inflammation, and balance the bacteria on your skin. The concentrations of the active ingredients are varied depending on your skin type and acne severity. Take our skin quiz to find the right treatment for you!

Stick with it!

Once you find the right treatment, you MUST use it consistently for 6-8 weeks to see results. Acne takes time to form, so you need to give it time to heal. Some people also experience skin purging, where their breakouts get worse before they get better (fun, right?!). It will get better, though. After a few weeks of consistent treatment use, new breakouts will be smaller and disappear faster, which are all signs of healing.

If you’re getting breakouts in new areas where you usually don’t break out or if your pimples are larger or more severe, then it could be a sign that you’re reacting negatively to the treatment, and you should stop using it immediately.

Don’t use too many products at once

When you’re frustrated with a breakout, it’s hard not to try everything under the sun to treat it. Using too many products (especially using more than one acne treatment) or continually changing your treatments will dry and irritate your skin, which only makes your acne worse.

Use minimal products (cleanser, acne treatment, moisturizer, SPF) to not overwhelm your skin and build a healthy skin barrier while treating your acne.

Don’t over-cleanse 

If you have acne, then it’s likely that you have oily or combination skin. It might sound counterintuitive, but over-washing your skin can make it even oilier. Your body will respond to dry and irritated skin by producing even more oil. Wash your face no more than twice a day and use a gentle, pH-balanced cleanser. 

Prevention is key

The best way to treat acne is to stop if before it even starts! If you have acne-prone skin, you should be consistently using an acne-treatment, even if you’re not currently breaking out. Treatments containing salicylic acid or sulfur are gentle for daily use. These treatments will prevent pores from clogging, which is the first step to forming a pimple formation.