The Treatment of Acne

Although acne can be a huge nuisance, it is not something that should ruin your life. Many products are available to help you on your way to clear skin. There are three main types of acne products:  preventative general skincare products, over-the-counter specialized acne products, and prescription acne products. All three serve different purposes so it is important to know about all of them before making a decision about them.

Preventative acne products are usually general skin care products that help in the prevention of acne. These include make-up removers, cleansers, etc. Many times products like these should be part of your daily routine already, but some are more specifically oriented towards acne care. Products like these usually reduce the production of acne causing oil and/or prevent the skin from clogging.

The more specialized over the counter treatment would be products that can help reduce present acne without a prescription. The two most popular active ingredients for these types of products are benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid. These both work by killing acne causing bacteria and drying the skin to get rid of excess oil and unclog the pores. You should start out with the lowest recommended dose of the product to see how you respond. If you need to keep increasing the dose and it still does not work, it may be necessary to contact a dermatologist.

A dermatologist will most likely be able to prescribe to you acne medication that is effective in your particular case. These medications include topical ointments, oral antibiotics, and a variety of other things. A hormonal treatment may also be suggested because hormonal changes have been shown to cause acne and it may be an effective treatment for you. A dermatologist might also perform a minor surgical procedure to remove the contents of pustules.

With this great variety of acne products at your fingertip, you should never again suffer a day of looking into the mirror and being disgusted by your face. All that is left to do is decide what type of treatment to use and to put it into action.