Doctor inspecting patient's skin on their face looking through a device.

Acne Awareness

Written by: Texas Tech Physicians
Contributor: Cameron West, M.D.
Topic:  acne  dermatology 
June 23, 2026

Understanding Acne

Whether it’s an occasional pimple or a chronic breakout problem, acne issues are frustrating and can occur at many stages of your life. They tend to start in the teenage years and become less frequent as we get older, but for some of us, acne is a lasting problem.

If you’re struggling with acne, we are here to walk you through some helpful habits and information that can be useful to you as you move forward to positively impact your skin health.

What causes acne?

Your sebaceous glands produce sebum—an oily substance that lubricates your skin. When you get pimples, it’s because the place that holds your hair follicles and those sebaceous glands become clogged with oil and inflamed.

Acne can cause a range of conditions at varying levels of severity: whiteheads, blackheads, small red bumps, pustules and solid painful lumps are some of the signs of acne, and it usually appears on the face, forehead, chest, back and shoulders.

There are self-care treatments, daily habits and over-the-counter products that can remedy these issues. If these changes don’t help your acne, or if your condition is severe, your dermatologist can offer you treatment options.

Finding treatment

Treatment for acne isn’t necessarily complicated, but it might take some trial and error (and some time) to see improvement in your skin’s health. Your doctor will be able to help you find the specific products and routines that are right for you.

Over-the-counter products

When choosing a non-prescription product, you want to look at the active ingredients. Below are some common ingredients to look for.

  • Adapalene: Adapalene is a retinoid and helps unclog pores and prevent breakouts. Adapalene gel is available with 0.1% strength without a prescription. It shouldn’t be applied to cut or burned skin, and sometimes stings a little when applied. Since it can cause dry skin, a non-oily moisturizer can ease the drying out.
  • Benzoyl peroxide: Benzoyl peroxide kills bacteria that leads to acne and removes the oil and dead skin cells that cause breakouts. Strengths range from 2.5 - 10%, but you might try starting with a lower strength, water-based product to reduce the risk of side effects such as dry, scaly skin, burning and stinging. This product can also bleach clothes and towels.
  • Salicylic acid: This ingredient also helps with clogged pores and inflammation, and can be found in strengths from 0.5 - 2%. It can cause mild stinging or skin irritation.

For best results, start with the lower-strength products and safely combine to see if a combination of products works best.

What next?

If nonprescription acne treatments don’t help even after using them for two to three months, ask your doctor about the best course of action.

Your dermatologist can help you find prescription products or other options to control your acne and prevent or reduce scarring. Options include many topical medications, oral medications and therapies.

Simple acne tips

Some simple steps that can make a huge difference include:

  • Wash problem areas twice daily: With a simple cleanser, wash your face gently with your hands. Too much washing, scrubbing, or excess products like scrubs and masks can irritate your skin.
  • Avoid irritants: Cosmetics and sunscreens that tend to be oily or greasy can irritate our skin and make your acne worse. When products are labeled as “water-based” or “noncomedogenic,” they are less likely to worsen your acne.
  • Use sunscreen: While you don’t want oily products on your face, protection from the sun is important. Even after acne has cleared, the sun can worsen any discoloration that has been caused by acne.
  • Don’t pick or squeeze: When you have acne, it’s tempting to touch your face or pick at your pimples. Popping can cause scarring or infection.
  • Wash up after physical activities: if you sweat from activities or play sports, wash your face or breakout areas, even if it’s just with water.

Acne is a problem with more than just your face—when you suffer from frequent breakouts, it causes distress and can increase anxiety. From mild issues to more severe or constant acne troubles, you deserve relief and healthy skin. If you’re experiencing issues, make an appointment at Texas Tech Physicians to see your dermatologist and get help finding solutions.

 

To ensure accurate and reliable information, this post was thoughtfully reviewed and co-written by Cameron West, M.D.