As if being a teenager weren't hard enough, this time of life is also when acne emerges, adding to the sensation of being uncomfortable in one's own skin. Using a few types of treatments is a good approach to dealing with acne. As always, if your skin gets worse, irritated, inflamed or shows no signs of improvement while using a treatment, seek medical attention.

Acne Cream Treatments

Over-the-counter treatments can work for killing acne bacteria. Products with ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide are especially helpful because they can kill the bacteria that causes acne in the first place. Salicylic acid can also work in a face wash because it helps unclog pores and prevent new blemishes from forming. Be sure to advise your teen to continue using these acne treatments even after all blemishes have cleared to prevent a reoccurrence.

Appropriate Cosmetics

It's natural to want to wear cosmetics to cover up your acne while it's healing, but using really thick makeups can make your acne worse and prolong the condition. Switching to oil-free and noncomedogenic makeup will help you cover your acne lesions without causing more to develop or making current ones worse. Even so, use as little makeup as possible to allow your skin to breathe and heal.

Prescription Treatments

See a dermatologist if over-the-counter methods do not help. Several treatments might be prescribed, including oral antibiotics, oral contraceptives for girls and isotretinoin or Accutane. These drugs carry the possibility of serious side effects, so discuss all of these options thoroughly before committing to one. Parents, understand the risks of your teen going on these medications before agreeing to a treatment.

Surgical Intervention

Acne can be removed. Nodules, or hard acne lumps under the skin, can be cut out or large cysts can be drained. Other large acne lesions can be injected with a corticosteroid to shrink them and encourage speedy healing. In all cases, a qualified dermatologist will perform these procedures in her office under local anesthesia.