Fortunately for most of us, acne skin care products and a good hygiene program is enough to get rid of spots.

It's important to keep pimple-prone areas clean, so wash the affected area twice a day with an unperfumed cleanser made specifically for use for the face and many are now medicated to help fight the causes of acne.

Sometimes this isn't enough on its own, however and this is where you may need to consult with a good dermatologist regarding the use of medicines to clear up any outbreak of acne or pimples.

Acne Medicines

Pimple treatment medicines fall into two categories: over the counter and prescribed. The easiest to obtain are those sold at your local pharmacy and you should look out for acne cures that contain such things as antibacterial agents such as benzoyl peroxide - often found in products such as Clearasil and others. Benzoyl peroxide can help dry out the skin and encourage it to shed the surface layer of dead skin, while also treating it with its anti-bacterial properties.

The only issue with these pimple treatments is that they don't work immediately and have to become part of your hygiene habit to make a difference. If you don't notice any improvement within eight weeks then you should consult your dermatologist.

Acne Skin Care Creams:

Acne creams are numerous and include:

• Azelaic acid (Skinoren) - an alternative to benzoyl peroxide and may not make your skin as sore.
• Retinoids (eg Adapalene) - Based on vitamin A, which you can rub into your skin daily. They work by encouraging the outer layer of skin to flake off.
• Clindamycin (eg Dalacin T) or erythromycin (eg Stiemycin) - this is applied to your skin to control the P. acnes bacteria.

Pimple pills:

Pimple treatment pills are used to fight the infection from the inside and to help control the rate of infection or the amount of sebum being produced, which causes the blockage in the first place.

Tetracycline and other antibiotics can be prescribed for acne. You should take these daily for around three months, although it might take four to six months for you to see the benefits.

For women some types of oral contraceptive tablets help and a combo of this and a hormone called ethinylestradiol with cyproterone acetate (eg Dianette) can work to suppress male hormone activity, and reduce sebum production.

Isotretinoin (eg Roaccutane) is a medicine known as an oral retinoid, and it works by drying up your oily skin.  This is generally used for people with bad acne as there are some serious side-affects, including liver disorders and depression. Ask you acne dermatologist for more details.

>> To read the first part of our How to Get Rid of Spots guide click here

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