There are many solutions sold for the treatment of acne, most of them without any scientifically-proven effects. However, a combination of treatments can greatly reduce the amount and severity of acne in many cases.

It is highly recommendable to ask a dermatologist about the tradeoffs between these treatments for any particular case, especially when considering applying any of them in combination. There are a number of treatments that have been shown efficient.

Killing the bacteria that are gathered in the blocked follicles. This is performed either by the administration of antibiotics or by treating the affected patches externally with bactericidal substances like benzoyl peroxide or erythromycin. However, reducing the P. acnes bacteria will not, in itself, do anything to reduce the oil production and abnormal cell behaviour that is the first cause of the blocked follicles. Benzoyl Peroxide has the characteristic of being a great oxidiser and does not appear to generate microbial resistance. Acne will generally reappear quite soon after the end of treatment; days later in the case of topical applications, and weeks later in the case of oral antibiotics.

Minimizing the production of oil from the glands. This is done by a daily oral dose of vitamin A derivatives like isotretinoin (sold as Accutane) over a period of some months. Isotretinoin has been demonstrated to be highly efficient in alleviating severe acne and is efficient in well over 80% of patients. This drug has a much longer effect than anti-microbial therapies and will often cure acne for good. The treatment requires close medical supervision by a dermatologist because the drug has several known side effects, some of which can be severe. The most usual side effects are dry skin and nosebleed. The drug also causes birth defects if women take it while pregnant or become pregnant while taking it. For this reason, female patients are asked to vow abstinence or use two separate forms of birth control while taking this drug. Because of this, the drug is supposed to be administered as a last option after milder treatments have failed.

Exfoliating your skin. This can be performed either mechanically, using an abrasive cloth or a liquid scrub, or chemically. Known chemical exfoliating agents include salicylic acid and glycolic acid, which encourage a peeling of the external layer of skin to prevent a build-up of dead skin cells which combine with skin oil to clog pores. It also helps to clear already clogged pores.

Note that the term "peeling" is not used in the classic sense of shedding, but rather as the elimination of the external layer of skin cells at the microscopic level. According to the type of exfoliation applied, some evident flaking is possible. If you want to give them a try, moisturizers and biological acne skin care solutions including exfoliating agents are commonly available over-the-counter.