Acne Treatments

What Acne Treatments Are Available?

As I’m sure you are aware, there are many different kinds of acne treatments available on the market today. These can range from over the counter creams and lotions to the latest state of the art laser technology. Sometimes a combination of acne treatments will be used in order to best handle the condition effectively. Side effects can be a problem when using some of the more aggressive acne treatments, so it is important that these treatments are closely monitored by skin care professionals.

Click Here For A Proven Acne Treatment System

Hygiene

Ok, let’s start with the basics. It may seem obvious but a good personal hygiene routine can be one of the most effective acne treatments there is. Regular washing can help to remove the oils and bacteria that cause acne. Washing your hands before touching any area affected by acne can prevent the spread of the bacteria from one part of the body to another. It is also believed by some that frequently changing your bedclothes can prevent contaminating them with the bacteria that cause acne.

Topical Acne Treatments

Topical creams and gels are among the most used acne treatments and are widely available from pharmacists and skin care stores. They contain Benzoyl Peroxide, an organic compound that works as a peeling agent increasing skin turnover and clearing pores. Applied twice daily directly onto the affected area they can be one of the more effective acne treatments in mild to moderate cases. Some people do experience side effects when using these creams such as dry irritated skin and redness around the area treated.

Antibiotic Acne Treatments

When traditional over the counter acne treatments have failed many people look to antibiotics as a solution. Antibiotic acne treatments can be used both as a topical cream or be taken orally in tablet form. They are only available on prescription through a health care professional. Antibiotic treatments applied externally look to kill the bacteria stored in the blocked follicles, whilst they can be effective they may not prove capable of treating areas larger than just the face. Oral antibiotics are used as acne treatments in severe cases, they work to reduce the bacteria population which in turn reduces inflammation. Oral antibiotic treatments side effects can include stomach upsets and a yellowing of teeth so are usually only prescribed after topical products have been ruled out.

Laser Acne Treatments

Lasers have for some time been used to reduce scaring left over from bouts of acne. Recently though they have been used as one of the newer acne treatments. They work by burning away the glands that produce oil and to introduce the formation of oxygen in the bacteria that cause acne which will kill them. Laser acne treatments can though cause long term dryness of the skin and are, as yet, prohibitively expensive.

Other Acne Treatments

There are of course many other acne treatments available, these include topical retinoids, they look to normalise the life cycle of the skin cell, thus preventing blockages. Hormonal treatments can be used for cases of acne in women. Anti-inflammatories are used as acne treatments to reduce redness and swelling, also microdermabrasion treatments to remove blackheads from pores.