Have you ever heard a statement like this? "Oh man the prom is next week and...argh...my face...how long to clear up acne?"

As comical as that scenario may appear, similar situations are not uncommon. This is a great question regardless, "How long does it take for acne to clear up?" The answer is that the amount of time varies from person to person and the severity of the acne. Another huge factor in the healing process is the action plan you decide is right for you and how fast you react to the first signs of a breakout. There are some complex skin types with certain people that it is not always easy to determine that right medication that will work the best. Each individual person is different so no one treatment is right for everyone.

Since there is not a one treatment cures all, don't be alarmed if you must try several different products before finding the one for your skin type. Don't not give up hope or persistence because there is a treatment out there for your skin type.

For more sever acne that does not vanish within one to six months, professional counsel from a dermatologist should be sought. From there they might give you some regiments by prescription.

As we know acne can be a terrible experience on three different levels:

1) It can make you feel self-conscious and even awkward as the breakouts occur.
2) It can make anyone the center of jesting, joking and ridicule from their classmates or coworkers.
Bad acne can scar skin for life that will serve as a reminder of the skin condition that plagued and made their life hard at a sensitive time in their life. People can be really challenged psychologically into adulthood from acne and the scars.

Not be affected emotionally by acne is not always possible, what you need to know is that there are some steps you can take that will help. For the average acne sufferer simple over the counter medications are all that's needed to do the trick, but even then, trying to figure out which one and how long to try it for can be a chore in itself. If you are a teenager or the parent of a distressed teenager who is facing acne for the first time or are just facing their first breakout that's terrible enough to warrant medicine, there are a few rules to help making choosing an over the counter acne remedy:

Here's what to do: The first thing that you need to do is pick a medicine that you may be familiar with. Spend some time researching, asking questions and seeing what has worked for others. Whether the treatment is a cream, gel or pad, try using the one with the least amount of medicine first. If Benzoyl Peroxide is the chosen medication, pick one that has a concentration of about 2.5 percent. Do not pick one that exceeds that limit. As long as the medication doesn't cause severe drying or irritation, keep using it for about two months.

Secondly, after the 60 days you need to re-evaluate the situation. If the medication seems to have worked, keep using it. If not, try a higher dose. Two months may seem like a long time but acne is not something that goes away over night as some medications or companies may claim. 60 days is a good amount of time to see how a particular acne treatment is going to work. Rinse and repeat.

When you try the OTC options at doses that would be considered high and there are no signs of improvement the it is time to set an appointment with a dermatologist. Going to a doctor for acne is a sensible thing to do if all else fails. The doctor will be familiar with all of the current drugs available for severe acne sufferers and will prescribe one to suit you. Don't panic. In the majority of cases your acne will clear with over the counter products. Remember, if everything you've tried hasn't worked, a doctor might have the solution.

Treating acne is highly personalized and not all medicines will work for every person all of the time. Even the medications that a doctor may prescribe will take time to work. Your doctor will be able to monitor your condition and adjust the medication to suit you.

To conclude, our question "How long to clear up acne?" is responded to, "Each person is different."