Top 3 Most Popular Acne Treatment Methods

If you’re like the majority of us, you’ve probably explored everything from celebrity-endorsed skin care lines to the latest viral TikTok shop products. Perhaps you've even snapped a selfie in the infamous ‘Darth Vader’ red light therapy LED mask in hopes of eliminating those stubborn breakouts. Yet despite your constant dedication, your acne persists, leaving you feeling disheartened.

In today’s world of skin care, finding a starting point can be overwhelming. Luckily, giving up hope is not on today’s agenda. A great place to begin is to understand the severity of your acne. This will determine an appropriate treatment approach.

How Severe Is Your Acne?

The more severe your acne is, the more challenging it is to treat using traditional methods. Plus, the longer it takes to effectively treat acne, the higher the risk for permanent acne scarring, which we want to avoid at all costs!

If one or more of the following are present at any given time, it’s safe to say you’re in that category:

Mild 

• Fewer than 20 blackheads/whiteheads (without redness)

• Fewer than 15 inflammatory pimples

• Fewer than 30 pimples in total

Moderate

• Up to 100 blackheads/whiteheads (without redness)

• Up to 50 inflammatory pimples

• Up to around 125 pimples 

Severe

• More than 100 blackheads/whiteheads (without redness)

• More than 50 inflammatory pimples

• Some pimples with pus

• Over 125 pimples 

Now that you have a better understanding of which severity level your acne may be, let’s get into your options for treatment. 

Monotherapy Treatment

A Monotherapy Treatment approach involves using a single treatment method. Most often monotherapy is effective for mild cases of acne or as a first-line treatment, favored by dermatologists. Here are some common monotherapy treatment options for acne:

Over The Counter

• Salicylic Acid treats acne by penetrating the hair follicle and oil gland, dissolving acne-causing blockages.

• Benzoyl Peroxide kills bacteria on the skin and unclogs pores.

Topical Retinoids

• Tazarotene cream or gel treats acne by slowing skin cell overgrowth and decreasing skin cell inflammation.

• Adapalene alters the rate at which skin cells grow and shed to prevent clogged pores.  

Antibiotics

• Topical antibiotics reduce the population of acne-causing bacteria on the skin’s surface.

• Oral antibiotics target acne-causing bacteria in and around skin follicles to reduce inflammation from the inside out.

Considering you may be in the mild severity category, the treatments listed above could be helpful, but like any product, there are side effects. It’s natural to have concerns, no one wants to trade one problem for another. In full transparency, some side effects of the products listed above can be itching, swelling of the eyes, stomach pain, shortness of breath, peeling, hives, decreased appetite, mood changes, and more.

Although these side effects may sound discouraging, let’s explore the next tier of treatment methods. Because like we said earlier, giving up hope is not on today’s agenda!

Multimodal Treatment

A multimodal treatment approach involves using a combination of different treatment methods to target multiple aspects of acne simultaneously. Most often multimodal treatment is effective for moderate to severe acne. Here are some common options:

Topical & Oral

• This is the most common duo and most likely to be in your first (and hopefully last!) round of trial and error with multimodal treatments 

• Example formula: Salicylic Acid + prescribed Tetracycline oral antibiotic = topical & oral multimodal treatment. 

Oral & Procedural

• By blending the systemic effects of oral medications with professional procedures, such as light therapy, you can target acne from both internal and external perspectives. 

• Example formula: prescribed Doxycycline + Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Therapy = oral + procedural multimodal treatment. 

Procedural & Topical

• This method combines professional procedures, paired with topical treatments, resumed up to three days following the procedure. Depending on which angle you need to target your acne, the multimodal treatment of procedural & topical could be an appropriate option if taken with caution.

• Example formula: microdermabrasion treatment + topical antibiotic = procedural & topical multimodal treatment. 

Once again, it’s crucial to consider potential side effects and weigh them alongside the benefits of any treatment. Your choice of multimodal treatment will determine the specific risks involved, making it essential to discuss potential side effects with your dermatologist as part of your pre-treatment checklist.

Now that we have explored various treatment options tailored to different levels of acne severity, there is one more treatment option we want to introduce. This final option especially should be considered if you're unsure of your acne severity level, or if the severity is constantly changing.

Technology Treatment

Technology treatment includes the use of lasers. It can be used to treat all forms of acne including hormonal, teenage, adult, cystic, nodular, inflammatory, and so much more. That too, for all severity types or fluctuating severity types.

A True Medical Breakthrough

Introducing AviClear®, the first and only FDA-cleared energy device for the long-term treatment of mild, moderate, and severe acne. With only three 30-minute treatment sessions and zero downtime, you can achieve lasting clearance. Because AviClear® is a laser, it’s drug-free, non-toxic, and has no harmful side effects.

The good news is that AviClear® can help almost anyone struggling with acne, regardless of age or skin type so there is no need to worry about whether you are a candidate or not.

We get it, it sounds too good to be true. So, let’s break it down: 

Understanding Acne

When your body produces excess sebum (the oils on your skin), it mixes with your dead skin cells and clogs your pores. Bacteria often get trapped in the clogged pores and trigger inflammation, causing red and pus-filled pimples.

Why AviClear® Over Other Acne Treatments?

While many treatments target various aspects of acne, they fail to address the root cause—excess sebum production. Unlike traditional methods, AviClear® targets acne at its source, offering lasting improvement rather than temporary management. With AviClear®, you're not just managing symptoms; you're treating acne comprehensively, leading to clear, healthy skin without the need for prescriptions or complicated skincare regimens. 

Unlike other methods that may help with acne, AviClear® comes with minimal discomfort and is a long-term solution to your acne. AviClear® utilizes skin cooling technology to numb the skin during treatment, resulting in a cold sensation followed by a slight prickle. If you're concerned about discomfort, you can simply take ibuprofen or acetaminophen prior to treatment.

Remember, giving up isn’t an option when it comes to achieving clear, healthy skin. CLEAR Acne Treatment Centers is the #1 AviClear® provider in the whole state of Texas, so with us, you can be sure you’re getting the safest, most comfortable, and most effective AviClear® treatment possible. With AviClear®, acne is officially optional.

No side effects. No prescriptions. Just permanent results that eliminate your acne at its source. Are you ready for a future of clear, smooth, acne-free skin?