Acne blemishes cause embarrassment and distress and may appear at any time, and for many, acne blemish control is vital. If you can’t prevent them, you can at least keep them under control. Thankfully, science has dramatically improved our understanding of acne blemish control and treatment. The latest research is quickly turned into the latest skin care treatments.

Acne blemishes come in a few common types that can occur on any part of your body with hair follicles, though most commonly on the face, back, chest and arms. Blackheads, pimples and sometimes-painful cystic acne are all variations of the same problem.

Breakouts are caused when the normal production of oils in your skin allows dead skin cells, bacteria, fungus or dirt to accumulate and plug your hair follicles. Over the years, researchers have found several things that tend to contribute to most acne blemishes.

Hormonal activity due to puberty, menstruation or androgen use often brings rashes of pimples on, as does the use of anabolic steroids. Generally the accumulation of dead skins cells is a causal agent, though stress is known to stimulate new cell formation as well as an excess of oil production and lowered immunity.

Skin irritation can cause swelling of the tissues that in turn, cause the pores to become narrower and in greater damage of being blocked. Exposure to high levels of chlorine is a known irritant. An allergy to normally occurring skin bacteria can also cause rather sudden irritation.

Neither is it true that dirty skin is a cause of acne blemishes. Quite the contrary, skin that is raw, dry or irritated is more prone to infection. A gentle, non-soap cleanser is recommended by most dermatologists for basic skin care and acne blemish control.

Generally you want to do one or more of the following:

• Keep your skin cells from shedding so much
• Kill the bacteria
• Keep the swelling down
• Regulate your hormones

Salicylic and glycolic acids are used to exfoliate. Soaps, tinctures, cotton pads and creams are all sold as treatments. Retin-A, a type of vitamin A, also works this way. It is topically applied under a doctor’s supervision or taken orally.

Creams containing benzoyl peroxide are widely available, though drying. Anti-biotic creams may be applied topically, though some people resort to taking them orally under the advice of a doctor. High doses of red and blue light also kill the offending bacteria and are effective for acne blemish control.

Niacinamide, also known as vitamin B3, has recently been shown effective and is available from dermatologists or made at home. It is noted for having few side effects.

Many girls and women report a significant decrease in blemish activity after beginning a birth control regimen.

Any changes you make will take weeks or months to become fully apparent. Some medications such as Retin-A may even cause acne breakouts to be worse when first begun – it will pass. The trick with acne blemish control is to keep on it, no matter what. Be patient, don’t pick at them and you may notice one day that your acne blemish treatment has worked.