Vitamin B5 also known as pantothenic acid is a commonly used vitamin to treat acne. It become widely popular after Dr. Leung a Hong Kong acne expert published a paper on its effectiveness. His paper was based on the theory that acne sufferers are deficient in vitamin B. The result is excess sebum production, the root cause of clogged hair follicles leading to acne.

Oral Tetracycline is one of the most popular oral acne medications. Moderate to severe acne may be treated with an initial dose of 500 to 1000 mg per day in a decreasing dosage as skin condition improvement is noted. This antibiotic is not for pregnant women since it can cause skeletal defects to her unborn child. Children under 8 years are also not advised to be given this medication. Oral Minocycline and Doxycycline are derived from tetracycline. Research shows that these acne medications are more effective than tetracycline. Doxycycline is reported to induce sunlight sensitivity. Both are advised not to be taken by pregnant women. Oral Erythromycin is an acne medication that may be taken as an alternative to tetracycline since it is safer for pregnant women and young children.

Contrary to the popular opinion, acne is not caused by sugar or greasy foods. Although they don't directly cause acne, they are overall not healthy for the body and can reduce the body's ability to build a strong immune system so you should consume in moderation. But cutting them out of your diet won't make your acne magically disappear.

Benzoyl peroxide is a common acne treatment. It is an exfoliant and therefore helps to remove dead skin cells from the skin's surface. It also prevents bacteria from multiplying on the skin. It may come in gel, cream, or lotion form. And it may also be found in combination with sulphur which is another exfoliation agent. Benzoyl peroxide helps to prevent the development of new blemishes and clear up ones that are already present. It needs to be used on a daily basis and may initially cause itching, redness, and dryness. Skin will slowly show improvement over time with continued usage.

A suntan or sunburn that reddens the skin can make blemishes less visible and make the skin feel drier for a little while. But the benefits are only temporary and cannot take the place of proper acne skin care. The sun can seriously damage skin, promote aging of skin, and cause skin cancer. Furthermore, many of the medications used to treat acne make a person more prone to sunburn.

Laser acne treatments for severe forms of acne work by the laser killing off the bacteria responsible for causing the acne. Lasers used for mild acne treatments like simple blackheads and whiteheads targets the serum producing glands to simply unplug the follicle to release the serum trapped inside by heating the top layer and shrinking the oil gland. This affects the top area of the skin leaving the deeper layers virtually unaffected and able to heal without incident.