Despite the fact that there are a lot of effective over-the-counter treatments for mild to moderate cases of acne and prescription medicines for more severe acne, curing acne takes time and so, while the medication does its work, the majority of people want to cover up their spots as much as they can.
That said, it can be argued that because this is a condition affecting about 85% of the population between the ages of about twelve and twenty-four you really shouldn't worry about trying to cover it up at all since nearly all of us go through it. But, you try telling that to a youngster who is heading out on that crucial first date.
Women especially tend to suffer more because, like it or not, they tend to be judged more on their looks. However, they are also fortunate enough to have a ready-made answer in the shape of makeup.
Normal makeup however can lead to problems and, although it may well cover up your pimples, it could also aggravate the condition. The answer here is therefore to buy makeup that is formulated for people with acne and that means makeup that is labeled as 'non-comedogenic'. This term is derived from the word 'comedone' which is the scientific name for the blackheads and whiteheads accompanying certain mild forms of acne.
Your first line of defense should be a concealer which can be dabbed onto acne spots using a disposable sponge. You need to be sparing in your use of concealer though and use only as much as you need and no more.
Next it is on to a foundation which is excellent for blending your skin tones and which again has to be used sparingly but enough to give you an even color overall. You will find that foundation is not only excellent at covering your acne spots but, since it is not as reflective as your skin itself, it also softens shadows and reduced the contrast produced by the bumps which accompany acne.
Finally, a light covering of powder can also help to further even out color tones, reduce shadow and eliminate contrast.
But what about the men? There are two approaches which you can adopt here. The first is to follow the women and use makeup and you will discover that there is makeup available today that is specifically formulated for use by men. If, however, you don not think that this is for you then a second approach is to buy one of the range of treatments that contain acne covering compounds to both help treat the condition and hide its appearance at the same time.
Of course it would be great if we had an acne cream treatment which could get rid of acne fast but for the moment this is a somewhat lengthy process and so, until we have some products and treatments that cure acne fast, finding effective ways to conceal the problem will continue to be important for many sufferers.
