If you have acne you are probably embarrassed and upset. Acne is a breakout of pimples or blackheads or other blemishes that appear on the face or other parts of the body. You want acne treatment that works so you can get rid of it fast. But first you have to understand what can cause acne.
What causes acne?
Acne is caused by an overproduction of oil and dead skin cells that get inside your skin’s follicles. It plugs the follicles up and so it swells up and causes the bump or blemish. It can also be caused by bacteria or pus filled lesions.
Together, they form a kind of biological traffic jam that plugs the opening of the pore and causes the follicle beneath to swell. Doctors today believe that a key thing that causes acne is inflammation, so if you want an acne treatment that works, you need something that treats inflammation of the skin.
Another thing to know is that everyone’s skin is different and so what will act as an acne treatment that works for one person, may not work for another. You may have to try more than one acne product to get the results of clear skin like you want.
Types of Acne Treatment
There are several kinds of acne treatment to try to find acne treatment that works. Here are some suggestions:
Over the counter acne treatments
The over the counter kinds usually fit into two categories, pore cleaners or products that stop the overproduction of oil or hormones that can cause acne breakouts to happen.
These products can be purchased over the counter and usually have either benzyl peroxide or salicylic acid in them. Sometimes it is best to try two or three different brands of these types of products and switch off every month or so using them. That’s because the body can become resistant to a particular product and this outsmarts it and keeps that from happening as you search for an acne product that works best for your situation.
Here is a little more in depth about the ingredients in some over the counter acne medications:
Benzyl peroxide — Benzyl peroxide comes in varying strengths from 2.5 to 10 percent, but be careful if you have sensitive skin because it can cause dry skin, redness, burning and scaling in some people.
Salicylic acid. This slows down dead skin cell shedding so the hair follicles don’t clog up as much, it comes in strengths of.5 to two percent and can cause stinging and irritation in some people.
Alpha hydroxyl acids. Glycolic acid and lactic acid are both alpha hydroxy acids that used in some over the counter acne products. They are acne treatment that works by getting rid of dead skin cells reducing inflammation, as well as stimulating new skin growth to promote smooth skin.
Sulfur-This gets rid of dead skin cells to prevent pore clogging and it gets rid of oil. It may cause dry skin in some people, and it has a strong odor.
Electronic products
Another possibility is the Zeno, which is an electronic gadget that zaps the pimpled, and uses heat to kill bacteria that can cause pimples. It is FDA approved and is an acne treatment that works for many people. Talk to your doctor about it. It is said to work in about 70 percent of the time, but usually works best if the acne problem is only mild and not widespread.
Doctor prescribed treatments
If you have severe acne, you may need a prescription from your doctor. Sometimes an antibiotic is needed to get rid of the bacteria causing the acne and this can be an acne treatment that works for you. They are often used along with a topical over the counter product and a good face cleaning routine.
Several of the antibiotics prescribed for acne include products like Solodyn, which is extended release, as well as minocycline, and Oracea, which has doxycycline in it. If a woman in her middle age has acne, doctors may prescribe an off label treatment of Aldactone, which is an anti-androgen medication that dries up the skin, and it works best on acne forming on the chin and jawline.
Some women also find that birth control pills are an acne treatment that works for them if their acne is caused by hormonal issues. A bonus is that it can also control mood swings and make a woman’s period more regular and less painful.
A medication that is an acne treatment that works by suppressing oil production is called Accutane or in its generic form it is called isotretinoin. You need a doctor’s prescription for it.
Laser Treatments
Another relatively new acne treatment that works for some people is laser treatments. These are expensive, but may help some acne sufferers. One kind of laser treatment works to inhibit the bacteria that sometimes causes acne.
Another laser like treatment for acne is photodynamic therapy. This is sometimes combined with topical treatment called Levulan, for two kinds of action to get rid of acne issues.
All in all finding an acne treatment that works for you can be frustrating, but there is bound to be one of the above treatments that will do the job. Start with the cheapest or if your situation is really bad, see a dermatologist or family doctor for advice. Above all, wash your face daily with non-medicated soaps, don’t pick or squeeze the pimples or acne breakouts, and keep your hair and hands off your face.
Use all acne treatments only as prescribed and if you aren’t seeing any results in a couple of months, it is definitely time to see your doctor to get something that is acne treatment that works for your situation. No one likes acne breakouts, but there is hope for getting rid of and preventing the problem attacking your skin. Try one of these acne treatment that work today and soon you could be having clearer and brighter skin.
