You reached the limit of 2 piece/s per product!
You. Yes, you. Stop picking, popping, or poking, and read our guide on real treatments for acne.
Acne is 100% normal. But the type of acne is usually related to one (or a few) of these factors:
Happens when excess sebum, dirt, and other impurities (like makeup) get trapped under hair follicles, deep within the pores. These are usually small bumps under the skin and can take two forms:
Treat it
Try salicylic acid, a BHA that works to deeply unclog pores, and benzoyl peroxide, which kills acne-causing bacteria. For more severe cases, retinoids can help. But always ask your dermatologist before starting one, as they are serious topicals that come in a range of strengths, and you’ll want to find the right one for you (to avoid any potential for irritation).
Treat it
Try salicylic acid, a BHA that works to deeply unclog pores, and benzoyl peroxide, which kills acne-causing bacteria. For more severe cases, retinoids can help. But always ask your dermatologist before starting one, as they are serious topicals that come in a range of strengths, and you’ll want to find the right one for you (to avoid any potential for irritation).
Treat it
Topical retinoids can help clear up milia by speeding up skin cell turnover. Otherwise, small patches of milia often tend to clear up on their own, while more serious cases can be addressed (and removed) by a dermatologist.
Happens when pores become infected (again with things like bacteria, dead cells and excess sebum) and fill up with pus, leaving skin red, irritated and tender. This type of acne can take multiple forms:
Treat it
Use spot treatments with benzoyl peroxide (to kill bacteria) and salicylic acid (to deep clean inside the pores). Severe case? Go to the professionals for oral antibiotics or retinoids.
Treat it
Don’t touch it! Use spot treatments with benzoyl peroxide (to kill bacteria) and salicylic acid (to clean out dirt deep inside the pores). Severe case? Go to the professionals for oral antibiotics or retinoids.
Treat it
Visit your dermatologist, because nodular acne forms deep within the skin and will require more than just OTC treatments. Also, don’t try to pop it! You could cause inflammation and scarring.
Treat it
Cystic acne requires a trip to the dermatologist — trust us! Trying to pop them will only increase the likelihood of scarring, and picking can spread and worsen the situation.