Acne Treatment

Acne, sometimes known as Zits, is a menace to people who suffer from this condition; but things are gradually improving for sufferers. It is not surprising then that a great deal of money has been spent on skin care treatment development; the result of this effort is a growing range of effective treatments. Although the number of acne skin care products and treatments might at first seem endless, they can actually be categorized into three areas:

• Drugstore: Preventative treatment
• Over-the-counter: Treatment
• Prescription: Dermatologist or Doctor, specialist cream or ointment

General or preventative products form part of a large skin care market, they deal with skin creams, lotions and cleansers that can help to stop acne. Whilst many sufferers use these products there are even more people who just want to keep their skin clean and conditioned.

Many of these cleansers act in almost exactly the same way as acne skin care products which have been formulated to limit the amount of oil or sebum forming in the pores. Excess oil needs to be stopped from clogging the pores as this oil make it easier for bacteria to grow, exacerbating the condition.

Other skin care treatments can help exfoliate the skin and are easily obtainable in any drug store. Dead skin cells and other atmospheric pollutants are removed cleaning the pores which reduce the chance of any bacterial growth.

The growth of the skin care market has allowed even more specialized acne skin care products to be available without the need to visit the doctor. These include products like vanishing creams which extract the excess oil from the skin. Most of these are based on benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, both of which are the enemies of bacteria (and hence acne).

You should start with a product that has lower concentration of benzoyl peroxide (e.g. 5%) and see how your skin responds. Alpha-hydroxy-acid based moisturizers are also popular as a skin care regime. You might have to try a few different creams or lotions before you find the acne skin care product that is effective for you’re skin. If nothing you try seems to work, you should contact a dermatologist.

On-prescription treatments are prescribed by a dermatologist and can include ointments that can be applied on the affected area or oral antibiotics or just any topical ointment. Your dermatologist may suggest a minor surgical procedure to remove the contents of pustules. Never try to squeeze your zits as it can lead to permanent damage of your skin.

Your doctor could prescribe a hormone-based treatment to treat your skin problem. Hormonal changes are known to cause acne and such skin care treatments are sometimes known to be effective. There is no longer any reason to despair if you have this skin complaint or are prone to its effects. Science has produced many effective treatments for this unkind condition.