To begin understanding the steps in curing acne, the causes of acne and the different types must first be understood. Acne is considered any type of breakout of the skin ranging from blackheads, whiteheads, pimples and cysts. The cause is usually due to the pores of the skin being blocked by dead skin tissue or sebum, the oil and wax product the body produces to help maintain moisture in the skin.

As sebum is produced, it works its way through the gland that allows hair to travel from the follicle to the surface of the skin. If the sebum is slowed or hardens it can form an effective block in the follicle causing an infection at the point at which the blockage occurred. The first step in curing acne, regardless of the cause, is to prevent the conditions that are favorable for it to form.

By keeping the skin clean and free of dry skin and excess sebum, it will allow a smoother flow to the surface where it can do its job of coating the skin and protect it from drying out. For common form of outbreaks, benzoyl peroxide is considered the best means of curing acne for surface outbreaks. The pimples near the surface will respond to treatment and the root of the pimple can be killed by the treatment, resulting in the skin clearing.

As Conditions Worsen Stronger Methods Are Needed

Cysts, often referred to as cystic acne, are essentially pimples that form under the skin, with the surface pustule being as large as 5 mm in diameter and the root imbedded as deep as to the hair root. Squeezing will not help and usually makes matters worse. A typical method of curing acne generally has little effect of cystic acne as it is a topical solution and unable to penetrate deep enough to have any effect.

There are a few over-the-counter medications for curing acne that contain antibiotics that are necessary to eliminate the cysts. The best of curing acne with cysts is to keep them clean with a light cleaner and light rubbing, but not squeezing. When left alone they will usually disappear in about two weeks. If aggravated they may remain much longer and cause more pain.

When taking precautionary steps are not enough to avoid acne breakouts, using over-the-counter methods of curing acne can be a good first step. However, for more stubborn cases of acne, consulting a dermatologist who can recognize the type of acne being suffered may be needed to find an effective means of curing acne.