Best Treatment For Acne

A dermatologist’s guide to the best treatment for every type of acne.

- Dawn Chen

You’ve probably battled zits in some capacity throughout your life – whether it’s the odd period pimple, or full-blown cystic acne when you were a teenager. But hold your horses if you’ve been dealing with each bump the same way. Dousing your skin with tea tree oil or salicylic acid isn’t always the way to go, and the wrong treatment can actually exacerbate the condition.

Dr Teo Wan Lin, founder and medical director of TWL Specialist Skin & Laser Centre, decodes the various types of acne here, and how you can treat as well as prevent each one accordingly.

HORMONAL ACNE

What does it look like? Red and bumpy, this tends to cluster around the mouth area and jawline, and flares occur before the start of your menstrual cycle each month. Hormonal acne can be very severe, and may also be associated with irregular menstrual cycles, and excess facial or body hair growth.

What causes it?

It may not be simply pimples when it occurs constantly around the jawline and mouth. If it’s a case of true hormonal acne, check if your menstrual cycles are regular and if you have observed excessive hair growth on your body. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) can cause acne as well, and is actually a disorder of your ovaries, which can lead to infertility if left untreated.

Hormonal acne is not caused by makeup, the climate or the new moisturiser you are using (provided the product has a noncomedogenic label on it).

How to treat and prevent it?

If you have a recurrent flare of more than five to eight pimples every month, you should see a dermatologist who would probably prescribe oral antibiotics. If there is an ovarian problem, your doctor will get you started on specific oral contraceptive pills to help regulate your menstrual cycles as well.