My Best Acne Treatment for Blackheads, Whiteheads, Papules and Pustules

If you are looking for the best acne treatment you are not alone. It is estimated that over 85% of teenagers will struggle with acne. The bad news is that sometimes acne will even continue on well into adulthood. It's also estimated that 20% of adults in the United States are dealing with active acne at any given time.

There are a number of acne treatments available that include topical acne treatments such as creams or gels, oral antibiotics and medications, and acne kits like Proactiv or Clean and Clear's Advantage Acne Control Kit.

With all of the treatments available it's extremely hard to know which one of them is the best acne treatment. The truth is that there isn't one best treatment that will work for everybody. 

I'm writing this article because I struggle with acne myself. In fact I have been dealing with it since I was a teen though now it seems to be more severe. I long for the days when all I had to worry about was a whitehead in the morning or some blackheads on my nose. Now I'm lucky enough to experience papules (inflamed bumps with no head) and pustules (painful red bumps with a white or yellow center). 

Papules and postules have proven to be very difficult for me to get rid of completely but I have seen improvements in the last month and it's because of one very inexpensive product. More on that later.

First, my personal skin type:

I think it's important that I disclose my skin type because those who have a similar type may be able to benefit from the products that are helping me treat my acne.

• Combination skin (oily t-zone - particularly during summer, dry cheeks - particularly in winter)
• Acne prone
• Sensitive
• Acne types: Mainly blackheads, papules and pustules with the occasional whitehead

I personally think that your best fight against blackheads is keeping your skin clean by washing it regularly - twice per day and extracting existing blackheads using your preferred method. I prefer pore strips. They're inexpensive and you can see the proof right on the strip. The blackheads will stick making this an effective blackhead treatment!

There's even a lady on YouTube who makes her own "pore strips"! I haven't personally tried it, but she demonstrates how to make it and she also puts it to use for viewers to see.

Here I'll get into my routine and what has worked for reducing these two types of acne on my skin. I tend to get flare-ups just before my least-favorite type of month so I'm damn sure my acne is relatively hormonal. Yay, hormones.

First of all, I am on Ortho Tri-Cyclen. However...I have been on it for 5 complete months so far and have noticed virtually NO improvement. This was/still is very frustrating to me. I needed birth control and I was hoping it would help with my acne.

My Skin Care Regimen:

• Cleanse with Cetaphil (or a store brand version - ingredients are THE SAME)
• Apply Clinique Clarifying Lotion - Level 3 (for oily skin)
• Apply Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel + 1 drop Jojoba Oil

I'm convinced that I was not moisturizing my face enough. I have tired several creams and I'd apply them and wake up with breakouts. NOT my cup of tea. I finally learned about Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel which does not break me out and it moisturizes without making my skin oily. (It doesn't need any help with that)

Added Moisturization for Winter Care

Clinique's gel works perfectly during the warmer months but during the winter it's just not enough. What I have found that helps tremendously is adding 1 drop of jojoba oil. This stuff is a miracle in itself and it's very inexpensive. Even though it's an oil, it DOES NOT MAKE MY SKIN OILY. It really keeps it in check and has made it soft and more smooth. I have been using jojoba oil for the past 3 weeks and have already noticed a great improvement in my skin. My skin is smoother and more calm. It seems to have helped reduce the few papules and pustules that I DO have to virtually nothing. They are actually going away. Those who have had to deal with these things KNOW that they can last for MONTHS.

As far as whiteheads go, I really don't experience these very often. When I do get them, I feel like it's a result of not getting every last trace of makeup off of my face. If I don't get it all off, I may wakeup with a tiny whitehead but I don't get them often at all. They're so much easier to get rid of and they go away a lot faster too! The best acne treatment for whiteheads - in my opinion - is just keeping your face clean and making sure to get all makeup off of your face before going to sleep.

The only other time I would experience whiteheads is by applying a cream moisturizer at night. Then I would almost always wake up with at least one whitehead. I no longer use moisturizing creams of any kind and it's helped in my case.

That's worth repeating:

YOU DON'T HAVE TO STRUGGLE WITH ACNE!!!

If you have tried everything and you're still experiencing embarrassing, painful acne do not hesitate to see a dermatologist. They're the skincare experts and they can prescribe oral antibiotics and/or topical treatments to help cure your acne.

*I am not a dermatologist, I am simply outlining my experience with acne and what I've been using to help keep it at bay.