Although there are many acne treatments available on the market today, what might be deemed an effective acne product varies from person to person. Some of the factors involved during search for acne treatments include a person's body chemistry, skin type and the severity of the acne. The search may be frustrating and disheartening at times, but once a person does find the right treatment, the results are well worth the effort.
To become and stay acne free, especially in the teenage years, proper skin care habits are an absolute necessity. The most important thing is to keep your skin clean so that your pores do not become clogged, infected, and become pimples. Pimples are a type of skin irritation, so while you do want to wash your face with soap and water once or twice a day, you must be careful not to over do it. Washing your face too often can dry it out, or damage your skin with excessive scrubbing. Blackheads are not pores clogged with dirt, but instead are open pores that have become infected. No amount of washing will cure a blackhead, so there is no need to scrub away at them. A reasonable amount of sunlight can help improve acne, but getting a sunburn damages your skin, just like over washing. Using a water based sunscreen will help protect your skin. Likewise, if you wear makeup, make sure it is water based and not oil based , as oil based makeup is much more likely to clog your pores and cause break outs.
In most acne cases, over-the-counter acne treatments are sufficient. The most popular ingredients for these skin care products are benzoyl peroxide and sulfur. Benzoyl peroxide is an acne product that helps to dry out the oil on the skin, cleansing at the same time. Sulfur works to unclog pores and help the healing process along. When combined with other products, sulfur can decrease the amount of time it takes for your skin to heal.
For severe cases, acne treatments may need to include prescription medication or treatments performed by a dermatologist to become acne free. Many of the prescription medication used to treat acne is very harsh and can be painful, in addition to having other side effects. If a dermatologist does prescribe a medication, you should discuss the potential side effects, as they are quite serious in some cases. Many dermatologists have turned to dermabrasion therapy, which removes dead skin cells, and possibly scar tissue, to help unclog pores and give you a clearer complexion. Dermatologists also use light therapy to combat acne-causing bacteria underneath the skin, as well as laser therapy.
If this were a perfect world, there would be the miracle treatment for acne or better yet, there would be no severe acne sufferers at all. While a cure isn't available yet, there are enough acne treatments and products on the market, ranging from over-the-counter products formulated to help mild to moderate cases to prescription treatments meant for the most severe cases. You may have to try several different treatments before you find the one that works best for you, but no matter what, don't give up.
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