Your doctor may also suggest chemical skin peeling, removal of scars by dermabrasion, or removal or drainage of cysts.

A small amount of sun exposure may improve acne. However, excessive exposure to sunlight or ultraviolet rays is not recommended because it increases the risk of skin cancer.

Expectations (prognosis)   

Complications   

Calling your health care provider   

Call your doctor or a dermatologist if:

• Self-care measures and over-the-counter medicine have not helped after several months.
• Your acne is severe (for example, you have lots of redness around the pimples or you have cysts) or getting worse.
• You develop scars as the your acne clears up.

For infant acne, call your pediatrician if it does not clear up on its own in 3 months.

References   

• FDA and Manufacturers of Accutane and Its Generics to Implement iPLEDGE Program (02/23/2006, Food and Drug Administration)

• Questions and Answers about Acne (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)
• What Is Acne? (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)

• Acne (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
• Acne (Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player
  Also available in: Spanish
• JAMA Patient Page: Acne (American Medical Association)
  Also available in: Spanish
• What Is Acne? (American Academy of Dermatology)