AcneNet Answers

Will my acne really disappear with time?

Hi. I’m Tim, a 15-year-old with blackheads, whiteheads and oily skin. I am embarrassed and feel socially isolated because of my appearance. My dad tells me that acne no worse than this is "normal" in teenagers and if left alone, it will disappear in a few years. Is my dad right?

Scientifically, there is no way to predict whether your acne will clear, remain the same or get worse with time. While your acne might very well regress and disappear in a few years, it is also possible that your acne will increase in severity and cause scarring.

Treating your acne now can prevent it from getting worse and alleviate some of the emotional effects you are experiencing, such as embarrassment and feelings of social isolation. From your description, it appears that you have mild acne vulgaris. For information about how it is treated, visit Treating Mild Acne.