Fortunately today there are numerous safe and effective treatments for acne and over-the-counter medications can be used to treat mild forms of acne and prescription medications and other advanced treatments can be used to treat moderate and more severe forms of acne. All treatments however take some time to work their magic and, in the meantime, you still need to do something to try to conceal those unsightly spots.

Of course you could simply view your acne as one of the normal trials and tribulations of life which almost everybody suffers and not try to conceal your spots at all, but simply wait for them to disappear of their own accord. However, in an age when we are increasingly conscious of our looks, not only for our own inner well being but also because we are ever conscious of how others see us, leaving spots visible to the world is often not an option.

If you are a woman then, on the one hand, your problem is worse because, rightly or wrongly, you will tend to be judged very often on your looks. However, on the other hand, you are also fortunate because you can resort to makeup to help to hide your spots.

When it comes to buying makeup to conceal your spots you should look for what is often labeled 'non-comedogenic' makeup. Comedone is the medical term which is often used to describe some forms of mild acne including both whiteheads and blackheads. Non-comedogenic makeup is specially formulated so that it minimizes the clogging of your skin pores, which is one of the main contributory factors in the development of acne spots.

Your first line of defense will probably be to conceal your acne and in most cases the redness which often accompanies burst pimples or cysts can be effectively covered. Simply apply a concealer with a disposable sponge and work it carefully over the area you wish to cover. The secret here is not to overdo it as heavy use of a concealer can in itself draw attention to the area you are trying to hide.

Foundation can also help by blending tones together as long as, once again, you do not use too much. Foundation can do a very good job of masking blemishes but the key is to blend it in well to achieve an even color. Another benefit of foundation is that it makes the surface of your skin less reflective and softens shadows so that it can reduce the contrast caused by acne bumps.

Finally, a light finishing powder can again even out color tones and lessen contrast and shadows.

Because men typically do not wear makeup they have more of a problem when it comes to concealing acne. However, you will find that many over-the-counter acne creams now contain compounds which are designed to help to hide acne spots. These however are not always terribly effective at hiding your acne and so a growing number of men are turning their attention towards makeup. Today there are an increasing number of subtle makeup products specifically aimed at men and these can be very effective in helping to conceal spots.

One final point to remember is that makeup should always be removed before going to bed when you should wash your face gently with a mild soap and water before applying an appropriate acne medication which can do its work while you sleep.