Acne Treatment – Best Acne Treatments For Mild To Severe Acne - Health - Skin Care
If you ever go to the skin care section of any major drug store you will probably see an entire rack of products marketed as being acne treatments. From medicated washes and scrubs, to topically applied creams, to alcohol-based astringents, and beyond. This doesn't even include all of the prescription acne treatments that only a doctor or dermatologist can give you. There seem to be countless acne treatment systems out there, and knowing which ones to go with and which to avoid can be quite a challenge for anyone struggling with a skin condition. This is why I've outlined below some of the more common types of acne treatments on the market today, with a bit of helpful information on each of them.
Before you read on, you should be aware that a large part of choosing the right acne treatment for you is knowing why you are breaking out in the first place. In addition to reading this article, you might want to check out our page on acne causes and try to figure out the best approach to treating your skin.
Why so many treatment options?
There are so many acne treatment systems on the market, but why does there need to be so many? Well there are several answers to that question. One answer is simply that there is huge market demand for acne treatments, so beauty and cosmetic companies all want to come out with their own line of acne products. This is somewhat unfortunate, because it causes a lot of unnecessary confusion for consumers. The truth is that a lot of the over-the-counter (OTC) products you'll find in stores are pretty much the same things, just with a different brand label on the package.
However, the more medically relevant reason as to why there are so many treatments available is that there are many different possible causes of acne, and not all can be dealt with the same way. This is a very important thing to understand, because it's easy to get discouraged if you try out a particular treatment option and is doesn't seem to be working for you. Don't give up; you just need to try a different approach until you've found a solution that works for you and your skin.External Treatment Options
The first line of defense against acne is usually some sort of external treatment, often in the form of a topically applied cream or gel. For mild to moderate cases one of these topicals is often enough to achieve clear skin, with minimal irritation to the skin.
Benzoyl Peroxide
By far the most popular topical treatment, and still one of the most effective, is benzoyl peroxide. Commonly found in concentrations ranging from 2.5% to 10%, benzoyl peroxide (BP) is capable of treating mild to moderate acne with minimal side effects including dryness of the skin, redness, and peeling of the skin. It will also increase your skin's sensitivity to sunlight and cause you to burn more easily, so be cautious of this. Unlike some other forms of treatment, BP doesn't seem to generate bacterial resistance which could cause it to lose it's effectiveness over time.
Salicylic Acid
Also known as beta hydroxy acid, salicylic acid is a treatment for mild acne which is commonly found in facial washes and scrubs. Pretty much every face wash you will find in a store that is labeled as being for acne is going to contain some amount of salicylic acid. Because it can cause dryness of the skin, it is highly advised that you do not use a product which contains salicylic acid if you are also using benzoyl peroxide, as the combination often leads to excessive dryness, redness, and peeling which will only worsen the condition if your skin.
Topical Retinoids
It has been known within the medical community for decades that vitamin A was a key component in the fight against acne, and because of this a group of chemical compounds known as retinoids were developed as effective acne fighting agents. Unlike some of the milder topicals, these medications are often able to treat more severe cases of acne.
Usually available only with a prescription, common topical retinoids include Differin (adapalene), Retin-A (tretinoin), and Tazorac (tazarotene), and there are several other which I haven't mentioned.
When applied as a topical, as opposed to being consumed orally, retinoids have far milder side-effects and are generally better tolerated by patients.
It should be known before you begin using any sort of retinoid acne treatment that you will often experience an initial flare-up; a period of several week when your acne will actually get worse. Don't be alarmed, as this initial break out is only temporary and your acne will begin to diminish as long as you keep using the medication as directed.Internal Treatment Options
Usually reserved for more severe cases of acne, there are also a variety of internal acne treatments available; often (but not always!) in the form of a pill taken daily. Many of these treatments are only available with a prescription, and not over-the-counter. To know more visit the Proactiv Reviews site for more details on acne treatments.