Best Acne Treatment Options

As most of you know that acne problems arise as a result of a combination of hormonal levels in the body (especially androgen hormones) and accumulation of excessive sebum oil in the pores of the skin. When your pores get clogged, the sebum oil builds up and the P. acne bacteria within spawns at an incredible rate. It should be pointed out as well, if you aren’t already aware, is that acne surfaces not only on the face but also on other parts of the body as well such as the neck, chest and back.

In this hub, rather than just focusing on identifying the best acne treatments, I want to also cover the regime that you can undertake on a daily basis to help in your fight against pimples, whiteheads, blackheads, acne cysts and the like. Just like losing weight and keeping the weight off, you need to go through a daily routine to increase your chances of getting rid of existing acne, reducing the severity of existing acne and also keeping acne off.

The entire process that you should undergo in order to stave off acne involves cleansing, disinfecting the skin, exfoliating followed by moisturizing. Let’s discuss each step in turn.

When cleansing, you should first choose a cleanser that is mild. Depending on the sensitivity of your skin, harsh cleansers can dry your skin too much doing more harm than good. The action of cleansing the face should be gentle but at the same time thorough. Take the time to wash your face properly.

The next step is to remove as much as possible of the bacteria that results in acne. This is achieved by using a solution or cream containing benzoyl peroxide or an equivalent. Concentration levels generally range from 2.5% to 10% and as you go higher, it is supposedly more effective. However, because benzoyl peroxide tends to cause your skin to be red, scaly and even itchy, you should start with 2.5%. Also, some people are allergic to this ingredient, so if you have never used it before, consult a dermatologist first. A more natural alternative to benzoyl peroxide is tea tree oil such as from Body Shop.

The third part of your regime should be exfoliation. The purpose is to help unclog your pores and this is achieved by using a product with salicylic acid between 1% to 2% in concentration. Again, similar to benzoyl peroxide, people exhibit different tolerances to salicylic acid, so it is advisable to start from the lowest. Each product should have specific instructions on usage so just follow the plan laid out.

Both the above two ingredients, benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, tend to dry out the skin, so to counter this effect, you should moisturize. Each person’s skin type is different and there are a range of moisturizers, so you should take the time find out which is more appropriate for your skin.

While searching for the best acne treatment product, I’ve come across three very popular choices:

• Dermaplex – This is claimed to be the best over the counter acne treatment as it is comprehensive. It both gets rid of existing acne as well as preventing new breakouts. The three step system involves no harsh chemicals so there won’t be peeling skins or itching.

• Acnezine – This package comes with an acne treatment cream and anti-oxidant capsules. The cream contains benzoyl peroxide and the capsules are designed to eliminate acne causing bacteria as well as unclogging pores. This combination is meant to achieve clearing and prevention of acne.

• Exposed – People have claimed that this product is effective in both mild and severe cases of acne. It contains a combination of synthesized organic compounds (e.g. Benzoyl peroxide) as well as natural ingredients (e.g. Tea Tree Oil). The set covers disinfecting and exfoliation. 

During your search, there will be a lot people telling you what the best treatments for acne are. It is difficult to identify objective opinions. The most important thing to remember is that the product you choose to try will not have adverse side effects on your skin, so it will pay in the long run to consult your dermatologist beforehand.

You might be in a situation where you already have had acne which subsided but they have left scars on your face. The best acne scar treatment will depend on the severity of your personal circumstance. You may have a few different options:

• Dermabrasion – this process depends on machines with wheels rotating at high speed to remove the top layer of damaged skin, thus letting new skin to generate and replace the removed skin.

• Laser resurfacing – this is a new technique and is similar in concept as dermabrasion except that laser is used to penetrate the skin.

• Chemical peels – the top layer of skin is removed by applying acid to the skin.

• Punching – there are a few variations including removing the layer of skin with the scar and replacing it with a skin graft; simply removing the scar and letting the wound heal; and cutting loose the scar from the bottom but letting it float up to the same level as the surrounding skin.