Options available for treating acne

In this article

Get an understanding of what is causing the acne
Getting rid of Acne - What treatment options are available?
Taking a holistic approach to getting rid of acne
Topical acne treatments
Oral acne treatments
Treating acne naturally at home
Skincare for acne prone skin

Having acne or acne prone skin can be upsetting and stressful. At Sönd, we have first-hand experience of what it’s like to have acne into adulthood and how irritating it can be.

If your acne is bothering you, then you’re more than likely on a quest to find the best acne treatments available. In decades gone by, all that was available was Oxy 5 or Oxy 10 from the local chemist, which whilst still an effective treatment, doesn’t work for everyone.

Thankfully now, the treatments options for acne are plentiful, all with different approaches. Here’s how you can take steps to find your best acne treatment.

Get an understanding of what is causing the acne

The causes of acne are due to numerous different factors. Genetics play a part, meaning that if your parents or siblings suffered from or have acne, then you’re more likely to suffer too.

Hormones also have a role in acne, particularly so in women, especially around the time of their period.

Outside of this there are various lifestyle factors that can trigger acne including our diet, stress levels and sleep. More about the causes of acne can be seen here.

When trying to find a way to treat acne start by trying to identify the triggers. Once this has been done you can make the relevant lifestyle changes to address them.

Getting rid of acne - What treatment options are available?

There are numerous skin treatments for acne. The best acne treatment for you will depend on what acne symptoms you have, what’s causing your acne and your skin type.

Taking a holistic approach to getting rid of acne

There are many treatments available for acne, however they can often only address the symptoms and not the root cause of the symptoms. This can lead to the acne coming back as soon as the treatment stops.

Take a holistic approach to treating acne by taking into consideration all the elements that could be affecting it. This includes diet, hormones, stress and sleep to make a few. More information on the causes if acne can be found here.

Once the cause of acne has been identified the relevant treatments and life changes can be made to it. More information on taking a holistic approach to treating acne is available here.

Topical acne treatments

First line acne treatments often involve topical creams and gels that you apply directly to the skin. These include antibiotic creams and lotions that help to fight the acne causing bacteria as well as products that contain benzoyl peroxide and azelaic acid that also work by killing bacteria.

Topical exfoliating products to help treat acne include ones that contain ingredients such as salicylic acid, glycolic acid and retinoids. Retinoids are derived from vitamin A and are very effective at ridding the pores of excess dead skin cells.

See our guide on topical acne treatments here.

Oral acne treatments

Depending on your symptoms, your doctor may suggest you take an oral medication for acne, either on its own or in conjunction with a topical acne treatment.

Oral acne treatments include antibiotics that kill the bacteria associated with acne, and also hormonal drugs such as the combined oral contraceptive pill and a drug called Aldactone. Aldactone reduces the activity of the androgens, or male hormones, that can cause acne. Another hormonal drug for acne is a treatment called co-cyprindiol that helps reduce the amount of sebum produced by the skin.

Isotretinoin is another drug that helps to control acne extremely effectively, working to target the bacteria, dead skin cells, sebum production and swelling and redness all associated with acne. It isn’t usually offered as a first line of acne treatment due to its potential side effects. But if you are offered this drug for severe acne that hasn’t responded to other treatments, your skin specialist will closely monitor you.

More information can be found here:

- Supplements for acne

- Medication for acne

Treating acne naturally at home

Listening to your body and learning what causes your acne to flare up is crucial to managing your acne prone skin naturally. Observing what foods can trigger your acne will allow you to purposefully eliminate certain foods, and not just restrict your diet for the sake of it.

Also observing how hormone fluctuations and stress can affect your skin may mean that you can make lifestyle changes that will improve your skin.

Whilst there’s no one size fits all, “best natural acne treatment in the world”, we do know that looking at your diet, lifestyle and acne flare up triggers really can make a difference. We know, because we’ve been there.

Skincare for acne prone skin

The right skincare for acne is essential. We developed our range of alkalising cleansers and moisturisers to support and work holistically with skin just like yours. Using our simple products on a daily basis could be the answer to your quest in treating acne naturally.

We’re always on hand to answer any questions you may have, just drop us a line below and we’ll be happy to help.