9 Acne Treatments That Will Definitely Not Cure Your Acne

Acne is far and away the most common disease in the world, and it is surprising the amount of misinformation there is out there about how to treat the condition. Many of the commonly held beliefs regarding acne treatment have been shown to have no scientific or medical foundation, but they continue to be passed on by well-meaning individuals in an effort to help others looking for an acne cure, or ways how to get rid of acne fast.

These proposed acne remedies not working is one thing, but even more worrying is what other adverse consequences may arise from applying some of these treatments on the skin. Below is a list of the common acne treatments that have been proven not to cure acne:

Household cleaning products: Cleaning products like detergent solution, bleaching solution, etc., even when diluted, should never be used to treat acne on any part of the body – face, back acne, or any other part. This is because, even when these products work to attack the acne, they will cause other severe reactions to the skin, including chemical burns, ulceration, or swelling in the affected area. A question one hears a lot is Does toothpaste get rid of acne? This is a frequently asked question we will try to answer in a future post.

Cleaning powders: There are many household cleaning powders people have used to try to cure acne, including scrubbing powder containing hypochlorite. These too should be avoided for the same reason as the cleaning products mentioned above – they are not effective against acne.

Squeezing your acne spots: This is probably a universal reaction, when you have acne. Most people experience a persistent itch that drives them to seek this easy way out by squeezing the acne spot. But it is not recommended because squeezing the acne spots will only prolong the attack and serves to spread the acne organisms to the nearby areas that are still unaffected.

Sticky tape: Leaving sticky tape on the skin overnight has been suggested as one of the ways to get rid of acne. But, while it can without a doubt help to remove excess oil from the skin and dead cells when removed the following morning, sticky tape can cause damage to sensitive skins. Others in addition may experience an allergic reaction to the glues used on the sticky tape.

Washing-up liquid: Using washing liquid on the face and other parts of the body has no effect and will not cure acne.

Home facial saunas:  These too will do nothing for your acne. On the contrary a home facial sauna can in some cases aggravate already sensitive skin.

Prolonged exposure to the sun (or using a sun bed):  One other “acne remedy” that definitely will not help your acne. In fact, if you are also taking certain oral medications at the same time as you expose your skin to the sun it can have dire consequences. Certain antibiotics for instance taken in tablet form make the skin highly sensitive to sunlight, which would cause conditions in the inner layers of the skin that make it more vulnerable to attack by acne. 

Taking high doses of vitamin A or Vitamin B: This in no way directly helps to get rid of acne, but it may potentially cause other unwanted side effects. In fact in very high doses vitamin A is poisonous.

Using Sudocrem: This product is a very good treatment for nappy rash, but it is not at all effective against acne as it contains a mixture of greases and oils that are bad for acne.

You probably have heard of other acne “remedies” like these from well-meaning individuals. Many of them will only worsen an already bad condition and should be avoided. It is recommended to seek medical attention in severe cases or to use a good over-the-counter acne treatment product clearly formulated to cure acne, as suggested by a medical professional or a pharmacist at the local drug store.