Acne Skin Care Products

The first step in choosing an appropriate and effective acne skin product, is to know your skin type, and to determine how bad the acne is, and how often it occurs. Acne skin care products are not a “one size fits all”, and what works for one person, may not for another. The most effective way to make sure that you choose the correct product, is to see a dermatologist, so that your acne can be assessed properly.

To choose an effective over-the-counter acne skin care product, it is necessary to know what ingredients are in the product, and what their purpose is. Acne occurs in the hair follicle that is blocked with too much oil and dead skin cells. When a build-up in the hair follicle occurs, it produces a plug that can harbor bacteria, creating inflammation and infection. Hormonal changes, medication, and diet can trigger, or aggravate acne. Early and effective treatment can reduce the risks of acne scarring, and also scarring of your self-esteem.

Any acne treatment should focus on reducing sebum (oil from the sebaceous glands), speeding skin cell turnover, removing dead skin cells, fighting bacterial infection, and subsequent inflammation. The types of treatments used, depend on the type of acne you have, and how severe it is. These are some of the most common types of acne treatment and ingredients used by dermatologists. If you know what to look for in over-the-counter acne skin care products, it is easier to narrow your choices, by determining the ingredients included in the product.

Topical Lotions: These over-the-counter lotions are used to dry the oily skin, kill bacteria, and promote shedding of the already dead skin cells, and is generally for very mild cases of acne. The active ingredients may include benzoyl peroxide, sulfur, resorcinol, and salicylic acid.

Prescribed Topical Lotions: These prescribed lotions are used to promote cell turnover, which prevents build up and plugging of the hair follicles, and to kill skin bacteria. Derivatives of vitamin A including tretinoin (Avita, Retin-A), adapalene (Differin), tazarotene (Taxorac, Avage) are usual ingredients.

Combination Antibiotic and Topical: Benzoyl peroxide and clindamycin (Benzaclin, Duac, Acanya), and benzoyl peroxide and erythromycin (Benzamycin) are used together to treat
inflammatory acne. Dapsone gel (Aczone) is a relatively new treatment dermatologists have used which has proven to be effective for inflammatory acne also.

Antibiotics: Oral antibiotics are used for moderate to severe acne to reduce the level of bacteria, fight infection, and reduce or prevent inflammation. They are usually prescribed for three to four months, and used along with topical treatments.

Ingredients in over-the-counter acne treatments may cause initial side effects such as skin irritation, dryness, flaking and peeling, but should get better after a month of use. Seeing a dermatologist will save you time and money in the long run, diagnosing the type of acne you have, and prescribing medications that will work from the inside out, and recommending the correct type of over-the counter acne skin care product to use. While you should look for products that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), specific products cannot be recommended, and the type of product that you buy will depend on your individual acne and skin problem.

While it is strongly suggested that you consult with a dermatologist first, there are a few acne skin care products that have received very good reviews from consumers.

DermaCleanse by Zenmed – uses tea tree oil in place of benzoyl peroxide for a more natural ingredient, and works internally, as well as externally to treat acne. It is for Dry to oily skin, and is effective on the back, and chest acne as well.

NanoCleanse – uses benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, and tea tree oil to treat acne, and reviewers liked its effectiveness.

Acnepril – is an oral treatment for those who have tried topicals alone, but was not effective. It is a dietary supplement with concentration of B vitamins Biotin, and Pantothenic Acid. It also includes green tea. This treatment works internally, and can be used with topical treatments. Neutrogena – is developed by dermatologists, and contains salicylic acid. It is recommended for cases of mild acne.

Exposed - is an acne treatment for those with normal to sensitive skin, and mild acne.

Proactive – is developed by dermatologists and uses sulfur in the refining mask, promoting fast shedding of dead skin cells. It also contains benzoyl peroxide to remove dead skin cells, and to kill bacteria.

Because there are so many acne skin care products on the market, you should note which ingredients are included, note whether it is approved by the FDA, and use only as directed. Seeking a dermatologist's help with your acne is the best first resource. Acne is caused by genetics and internal hormonal factors that need to be medically diagnosed. If you seek treatment early, you can avoid the physical and mental pain associated with acne. Acne skin care products are very helpful, when you know which types are best for your specific acne problem.