What is Acne Spot Treatment, and How Should You Use It?

Just like there are several different types of acne—blackheads, whiteheads, hormonal/cystic acne, comedones, papules, pustules—there are also different types of treatment. The right treatment for your acne can vary depending on what is causing your breakouts, your skin type, and many other factors.
One of the most common treatments for acne is called a “spot treatment.” We’ll discuss how these treatments work, and when it’s best to use them.

How Acne Spot Treatments Work

Acne spot treatments are different from your nightly skincare routine of cleansing skin, applying toner and other serums. These treatments are specifically designed to target a new blemish when it appears and try to speed up the process to eliminate pimples. Some of these treatments work overnight, while others blend into your skin so you can use them during the day.
Most spot treatments work by delivering a powerful dose of acne-fighting ingredients to the spot where you are breaking out. Some also have added benefits of reducing redness or swelling around the area so the blemish won’t be as obvious.

What Acne Spot Treatments Cannot Do

While they can be useful for occasional surface-level papules and pustules (the ones with a white part that pops up above your skin), they are not effective in treating all acne. Acne spot treatments don’t work as well for:

• Cystic acne
• Acne nodules
• Blackheads
• Acne rosacea
• Blocked pores

It’s also important to note that acne spot treatments are not necessarily a miracle cure that will make your blemishes go away immediately. Acne appears as inflammation, redness, and eventually pus coming up to the skin’s surface because your skin is trying to eliminate bacteria or other stuff inside your pores. Depending on where it is in the process, spot treatments may still take time to work.

How to Get the Most Out of Acne Spot Treatments

Another common issue that people encounter with spot treatments is simply not knowing what to use and when to use it. There are dozens of over-the-counter medications to choose from that contain one or more ingredients to fight acne:

• Benzoyl peroxide
• Salicylic acid
• Sulfur
• Topical retinoid

The key to finding a good acne spot treatment is understanding exactly what is causing your acne and which ingredients can most effectively fight it. Using the wrong one will either not work at all, or it could irritate skin and make blemishes worse. A skincare professional can help you understand your acne and figure out which products will work to clear up skin faster.
Skintherapy offers a variety of products for acne spot treatment. Some of our top products include:

• Acne cream with 10% benzoyl peroxide: with the highest available concentration of benzoyl peroxide, this cream can help exfoliate and prevent buildup of dead skin cells and other pore-clogging problems.
• Acne cream with sulfur: this sulfur cream with benzoyl peroxide helps with stubborn cystic acne breakouts and exfoliates for clearer skin.
• Sulfur healing mask: in addition to our acne creams, we have a sulfur healing mask that manages redness and irritation from breakouts when used once or twice a week.

Schedule a Consultation Today

The estheticians at Skintherapy Skincare & Acne Clinic offer online consultations and personalized skincare treatment plans. Contact us today to learn more and schedule your virtual visit today.