If you have acne, you know that it’s an uncomfortable, ugly and embarrassing condition. Exactly how ugly and embarrassing it is though, depends on what type of acne you have. You see, acne comes in severe, moderate and mild forms. So when it comes to relying on the best acne treatment skin care tips, treatment depends on the type you have.

Universally though, if you have any sort of bothersome acne, there’s one key first step: Talk to a dermatologist.

One of the biggest problems you can have as far as acne treatments go, happens when you go about it all on your own or base your actions on friendly advice. It’s always best to talk to an expert instead.

The big reason that home remedies and tips from your friends are not likely to help you right off the bat is the issue just mentioned above. That is, there are three basic varieties of acne. What works for your friend with mild acne may not work for you, if you have severe acne. The reverse is also true. If your friend has severe acne, their treatment may not work on your mild acne, either.

That’s not to say that there aren’t some simple acne treatments that you could try. In fact, there are plenty of them. It’s just that you should check with the dermatologist first. He or she can point you in the direction of the type of remedies that should help you the most. Let’s look at a few treatments that your dermatologist may suggest.

Mild Acne Condition

The biggest thing you need to do to treat mild acne cases is to keep the area as clean as you possibly can. That means washing your face with a good facial cleanser and water at least two times daily. Be sure to use a mild cleansing soap since you don’t want to irritate your skin or eyes.

You can also use a vitamin-enriched cream to treat mild acne. Again, a dermatologist could recommend the best type of cream for your specific problem. In general though, ingredients to look for in a mild acne cream are things like benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid and various skin-fortifying vitamins.

Moderate Acne Condition

For moderate acne cases, it’s really important to talk to your dermatologist quickly. The way to recognize whether or not you have a moderate case is to examine the type and amount of acne that you have. Basically, if at least half of your face is covered in some combination of whiteheads, blackheads and pimples, you have a moderate case.

In these types of cases, dermatologists usually prescribe some sort of antimicrobial cream. Stronger medications might be needed, though. It’s best to do whatever it takes as soon as possible, to prevent yourself from having permanent acne scars.

Severe Acne Condition

In severe cases, acne treatment skin care could involve some strong medications or even drainage surgery. With any luck, your case won’t get that far. If it does, though, you should definitely ask your dermatologist how to proceed with such treatments.

Of course prevention and avoidance is always the top acne treatment choice. Most of the time that starts with a healthy, acne-friendly diet along with plenty of activity and positive lifestyle habits. Are you following a healthy acne diet and exercise plan?