ACNE TREATMENTS

Acne affects close to 80% of the American population at some point or another. Because of the wide range of acne products available in the market, most acne sufferers have problems deciding which acne product to use for treatment. In fact, prior to consulting a dermatologist, most would first use over the counter drugs and medications.

Dermatologists often advise the use of such acne products (example Neutragena, Eucerin, Aquanil, Cetaphil and Extra Gentle Cleanser) if your case is severe. They will however, usually discourage the use of rough cleansers and scrubs. Also, vigorous rubbing of the skin is best avoided as these may create further irritation and may eventually lead to more acne.

To be able to select the best suitable acne product for yourself, you must learn how to read labels. That is, you have to acquire an understanding of the ingredients of the acne medications. Also, you have to identify which ingredients and which acne products work best for your type of skin.

Benzoyl peroxide, a common ingredient contained in most acne medications are effective in reducing the acne infecting bacteria termed as the “Propionibacterium acnes”. These are known to clog the pores while creating acne lesions. Moderate cases of acne are usually treated with such over the counter medications. Some of these medications also remove dead skin cells, thus preventing the appearance of comedones. They have been highly regarded among experts for decades now and is still rising in popularity as a safe way of clearing acne form the skin. However, the only serious side effect from using benzoyl peroxide is abnormal dry skin.

Another acne product that is noted to obstruct the quick shedding of the skin and the clogging of the skin pores is salicylic acid. This does not reduce the presence of the natural oil , but it prevents the formation of lesions in the hair follicles.

It is advisable that you continue using these two acne products even after the severity of the skin disease disappears to minimize the likelihood of future acne breakouts. However, over time, it is a good idea to cut down the usage of these products once you have no more acne.

The effective ways to determine which product, from the multitude of acne products available, is to distinguish the result of the active ingredients. Take note of what they do to your skin. It is recommended to avoid alcohol and oil-base products as these may either dry your skin extremely or add to the problem of excess oil. As you experiment with acne products, take note which leaves a soft feel and which results to itchiness and irritation.

Make it a habit to apply only small amounts at the beginning of each acne treatment. Also, pay close attention to the acne products for which your skin reacts constructively.

There is really no way round selecting the best acne product other than understanding what the ingredients in each product are for and through experimenting which works best for your skin condition. In time, after due diligence and careful analysis, you will be able to determine the best acne product for yourself.

By: Kathlene Capelle

Acne affects millions of people every year. It does not just affect teenagers, as there are many adults who also suffer from the skin problem. Many of us are on a relentless search for the best acne treatment. There are so many different medications, creams, lotions, and cleansers on the market today that it can become a little bit confusing. Often people will buy so many different treatments and try them at once that they can actually counteract and make acne worse. When looking for the best acne treatment, it’s important to know about your skin first. The most common thing people use is benzoyl peroxide. This medication can be found in many over the counter acne treatment creams. Benzoyl peroxide is designed to help dry out the afflicted areas by killing the bacteria that causes acne in the first place. Many people often see results with benzoyl peroxide within a day or two. The key to using it is to be sure and apply it to the acne once the skin has been cleaned and dried. Overnight is often best. It is important to know that benzoyl peroxide can in some cases bleach fabric or even hair, so do a test on some material before applying it. Another treatment that has increased in popularity over the last few years is Salicylic Acid. Salicylic acid is also found in many over the counter applications, and is designed to help unclog the pores and break down both blackheads and whiteheads, resulting in clearer skin. Some treatments combine both benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid to help boost the clearing power of the medication, and perform two different tasks on the skin at once.

A little known fact is that people have been using sulfur on acne for thousands of years. Sulfur helps to peel and dry the skin, ridding it of the excess oil. It can be found in a variety of facial soaps, cleansers, and creams. It is important to note, however, that sulfur has a very unpleasant smell. In addition, it can sometimes irritate the skin and make it red and itchy. The sulfur may cause new cells that have been exposed to adhere to each other, causing more acne. If you choose a treatment containing sulfur, be sure it is a mild one that does not contain too much. Aside from the basic drugstore or over the counter acne treatments, there are also prescription options available that can be administered from your doctor or dermatologist. These include prescription creams and even pills. Which treatment you receive will be decided by your doctor. They often look at factors like age, and the severity of the acne before prescribing something. It can be a long and hard search to find the best acne treatment, but with some trial and error, you can usually find one that will work well with your skin and help give you back a clearer complexion and more confidence. Read up on the different treatments available and try one at a time until you find the perfect match for you.

Every acne treatment should deal with the cause of the problem rather than simply concealing blemishes. Some concealers contain active ingredients that are found in a standard acne treatment, but the concealer does not do the job of cleansing the area and ridding it of oil. A good wash may be the best acne treatment available, but if a pimple has already appeared, a good concealer can be a lifesaver for that date or the big event.

It is important to use a good acne treatment and not to squeeze pimples. One may be tempted to think that, since the pore is clogged with oil, one should squeeze the oil out, but this only aggravates the problem, and can cause scarring. Some people have the nervous habit of picking pimples, which should be avoided at all costs, since it can also cause scarring. One of the best acne treatments is washing one’s face properly. This does not involve intense scrubbing, which can aggravate the problem, but really cleansing the face with a good cleanser that flushes out oil. After the face is washed, you can treat the face with benzol peroxide or another acne treatment which will remove oil from the pores. Many people make the mistake of using rubbing alcohol, which is not an acne treatment, and can dry the pores excessively. The regimen can be completed with an oil-free moisturizer which will keep the skin soft without using substances that will clog the pores an make acne worse. If you wish to apply cover-up, do so after the moisturizer is applied, and make sure that your concealer does not contain oil.

For those with severe acne, it is possible to obtain special acne treatments with a prescription, but these should be purchased only if other avenues have been unsuccessful. Many people have found success with alternative acne treatments and remedies, such as tea tree oil, which works well with oily skin. Removing oil from the skin is the most important aspect of an acne treatment, and deep cleansing can ensure that the pores are not clogged.



By: Juliet Cohen

Many people suffer with acne, but adolescents seem to be the most needing acne treatments. Reports show that ninety percent of people affected with acne are teens. In most cases, patients respond to acne treatments but it may take months and in some cases years before achieving the desired results.

While acne persists to afflict the lives of many, a wide range of products presented as acne treatments is available on the market. Many of these have been clinically tested and reported as effective, but many have not been scientifically proven as effective but nevertheless continue on the market.

Needless to say, always consult a health care professional for guidance in choosing the right acne treatments for your condition.

There are several forms of acne treatments available and considered somewhat effective to fight acne. Among the most suggested treatments, you will find the approach of killing the bacteria found in the acne as a result of blocked follicles.

In this case, antibiotics will be used as the desired acne treatment. The most common antibiotics are tetracyclines. For the same effect, a bacterial substance such as benzoyl peroxide is also used. Benzoyl peroxide is a topical treatment applied on the skin affected.

Although these acne treatments may seem to relieve the acne, they do not cure it. They simply treat the effect (the acne) and not its cause (oil secretion). Acne is primarily caused by oil secretion, which in turn causes the follicles to block and form cysts.

As a result, if the oil secretion problem is not resolved, acne is more likely to reoccur as soon as you stop using these forms of acne treatments. In essence, all treatments that treat the acne without treating its cause are only emergency treatments that temporarily relieve the problem. This forces the acne sufferer to repeat the treatment over and over until he decides to treat the cause of the acne.

Perhaps it means a change in diet or trying one of the other acne treatments, one that treats the root of the problem.

Derivatives of Vitamin A are also often used in acne treatments. Isotretinoin is one of the well know vitamin A derivatives. Clinical studies show that daily intake of isotretinoin will show results within a few months. The derivatives of vitamin A reduce oil secretion from the glands, and proved to be effective in treating severe and acute acne.

Contrary to the antibacterial acne treatments, acne treatments using derivatives of Vitamin A, such as isotretinoin, have found to have a longer lasting effect and even cure acne in some cases. But be aware that this solution is not perfect; it also has side effects that should not be ignored. These treatments should not be taken lightly and should always be followed closely by a health care professional.

Nowadays, acne sufferers have a wide range of treatments and approaches to help them in their fight against acne. The important thing to remember is to always research an acne treatment, along with its side effects, before going ahead. You would not want the unpleasant surprise of seeing your condition getting worse instead of better.



By: Yuki Shoji