Reduce scars.
Treating acne early may prevent acne scars. In general, the more severe the acne, the more likely it is to scar. While severe acne is most likely to leave scars, mild acne can scar when picked. Treating at the first sign of acne may also prevent someone from developing a habit of picking at their acne, so the person may never develop acne scars.

Stop lingering spots from developing when acne clears.
Anyone who has medium-to-darkly pigmented skin may see a dark spot appear when an acne pimple, cyst, or nodule clears. It’s called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). People with light-colored skin may see a red spot where acne once was. These spots can linger for months. Many consider it worse to have these lingering spots than the acne itself.

Prevent mild acne from becoming severe.
Early treatment can prevent a few pimples from progressing to widespread blackheads, whiteheads, and deep, painful acne.

Avoid years of acne.
Acne can begin at a young age. Dermatologists now see 7-to-12 year-olds with acne. Treating acne early and keeping it under control can prevent future breakouts. Today, that can add up to a substantial number of years without acne. Many people have acne into one 20s. For some adults, acne persists well into their 30s, 40s, and even 50s or 60s.

Sidestep emotional distress.
Acne can cause more than breakouts. Studies show that acne can also take a toll on one’s psyche. Many say their self-esteem suffered after developing acne. Some people with acne withdraw from people in their lives. The severity of the acne doesn’t seem to matter. Acne can have negative effect on self-esteem and relationships whether one has mild or severe acne.