Your Ultimate Guide to Acne Treatments

You may have heard that giving up French fries, pizza, or chocolate can make your acne go away and leave you with clear, fresh skin. Unfortunately, changing your diet has not been proven to effectively eliminate acne.

But if you’re tired of suffering from unsightly blemishes, there are some new treatments that may help you to fight acne and once again enjoy smooth, clear skin.

Do Acne Treatments Work?

Yes, they do work as long as you choose a product that is designed to target your specific type of acne. For the best results, treatments must be used consistently and correctly. Make sure you understand how often it should be used and how it should be applied and then don’t forget to use it!

The best acne treatments should:

• Reduce excess oil on the skin
• Remove dead skin cells
• Kill acne causing bacteria

Not every product will do all three of these so if that’s the case with the product you have chosen you may need to combine a couple products for complete results.

How long do acne treatments take to work? No treatment works immediately or over-night. Some treatments can lead to quick improvements but most products take about 8 to 10 weeks before you really start to see results. Even if you’re not seeing clear skin as quickly as you had hoped, don’t give up!

Know Your Acne

Acne is not caused by poor hygiene. Rather it’s caused when fat, skin debris, and keratin get stuck in a hair duct. Many times this is because too much oil is being secreted which prevents the hair duct from closing properly. More severe acne occurs when the hair follicle and oil gland are so inflamed that they rupture and release oil and the comedone into your skin.

Before you can find the right acne treatment, it’s important to understand your skin. The treatment you use is dependent on the type of acne you have as well as the severity.

Use the following guide to determine the severity of your acne:

Grade I- Usually experienced in early adolescence, this mild form of acne is characterized by small, minor pimples that only occur occasionally. Grade I is most treatable with over the counter products.

Grade II- Blackheads and milia are more frequent with this moderate acne stage. You may also notice papules and pustules are more common and skin is slightly inflamed. Grade II can usually still be treated with over the counter acne products.

Grade III- This severe form of acne is different than Grade II primarily because of the amount of inflammation. In Grade III you will noticed red and inflamed skin, papules, pustules, and nodules. Frequently blemishes spread over the body.

Grade IV- The most severe form of acne, Grade IV is often called nodulocystic or cystic acne. It’s characterized by numerous papules, pustules, nodules, and cysts with even more inflammation. Breakouts can be more severe, very painful, and spread throughout the body. Grade IV acne must be treated by a dermatologist.

Remember that it’s best to treat the acne you have now so it doesn’t progress in severity.

As you are looking for the best acne treatments, keep in mind that there are six different types of acne:

• Acne Vulgaris
• Acne Rosacea
• Acne Conglobata
• Acne Fulminans
• Gram-Negative Folliculitis
• Pyoderma Faciale

All but the first two types of acne are severe and generally must be treated by your dermatologist. They can cause scarring and may be painful so don’t wait to visit your dermatologist if you suspect you suffer from one of the more severe forms of acne.

Acne vulgaris is the most common form of acne and is most treatable via over the counter acne treatments. Let’s explore the lesions that may appear on your skin with acne vulgaris. As is true with all types of acne, do not pop or pick at the lesions. Doing so can lead to permanent scarring.

Comedones

• Whitehead: Whiteheads occur when the pore is completely blocked with oil, bacteria, and dead skin cells. A white spot appears on the surface of your skin.
• Blackhead: Similar to whiteheads, blackheads occur when the pore is blocked with oil, bacteria, and dead skin cells. However, with blackheads the pore is only partially blocked so the debris travels and slowly drains to the surface.

Inflammatory Lesions

• Papules: These inflamed, red, tender bumps do not have a head. They cannot be popped so don’t try—doing so could make scarring worse.
• Pustules: This lesion is characterized by an inflamed red circle with a white or yellow center.
• Nodules: Nodules are a more severe form of acne vulgaris. They are larger, more painful, longer-lasting hard bumps under the skin’s surface.
• Cysts: Another severe form of acne vulgaris, cysts are similar to nodules but are filled with pus. Both cysts and nodules can be treated with cortisone shots administered by your dermatologist.

What Types of Acne Treatments Should You Use?

The type of acne remedy you use depends largely on the kind of acne you have. Grade IV nodules and cysts, for example, must be treated by a dermatologist. You will notice the best results from over the counter acne products if you have either Grade I or Grade II acne.

You have several over the counter options for treatment. As you consider these options, choose the one (or more) that best fits in with your lifestyle and that you will be able to use consistently.

• Cleansers are typically effective at removing dead skin cells and eliminating bacteria. They are more specialized than typical soaps because they contain acne fighting medications.
• Creams, gels, serums, ointments, and medicated lotions are left on the skin for longer periods of time and therefore are often more effective.
• Toners and astringents are liquid acne fighters that also help to close pores.
• Oral anti-acne vitamins can heal acne from the inside out and help to prevent future breakouts. They cleanse the body and remove acne causing toxins and free radicals.

There are other options if you are not getting the results you want from over the counter treatments. Birth control pills can help to regulate hormones but they often need to be combined with an effective topical treatment as well. Antibiotics help to fight the acne bacteria and retinoids are thought to reduce the irritation caused by acne.

Ok, So Which Ingredients are the Best?

There are five main ingredients included in the best acne treatments.

Benzoyl peroxide is considered by many to be the most effective active ingredient in acne products. It is used to kill the acne bacteria (Propionibactermium acnes) and to remove dead skin cells and excess oil.

Most of the time you will find acne treatments that use between a 2.5% and 10% benzoyl peroxide concentration. Experts generally recommend that you start with a smaller concentration and work up because benzoyl peroxide has been known to cause dryness, scaling, redness, burning, and stinging.

Tea tree oil is becoming a more and more popular alternative to benzoyl peroxide. This natural, gentle, and organic ingredient mimics benzoyl peroxide in how it works but hasn’t been found to cause the unpleasant side effects of benzoyl peroxide. Many users report that tea tree oil refreshes their skin and improves their complexion.

Salicylic acid prevents pores from being clogged by slowing down cell shedding in hair follicles. It also breaks down existing whiteheads and blackheads. Salicylic acid acne treatments typically use a concentration of 0.5% to 2%. Side effects are generally mild and include stinging and irritation.

Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) are frequently used in over the counter acne products to remove dead skin cells and reduce inflammation. AHAs are also used to encourage the growth of new, smoother skin and to reduce the appearance of acne scars.

Sulfur may have an unpleasant odor but it is an effective addition to acne products and can be used to remove dead skin cells that clog pores. It also helps to get rid of excess oil. On its own, sulfur sometimes causes dry skin but it’s rarely used alone so be sure to check the other ingredients for potential side effects.

How Do You Find the Best Acne Treatment for You?

Your dermatologist can help you to determine the best acne remedies for your circumstances. However, there are some tips and tricks you can use to find acne products on your own.

• Know your options and understand the type of acne you have
• Check that the ingredients in the formula are proven to fight acne
• Look at ingredient amounts to be sure the product has enough of key ingredients to eliminate your acne
• Make sure the ingredients are safe
• Read customer reviews to see if other people with similar acne to yours have noticed a reduction in their acne

How are Acne Treatments Used?

Each acne solution has slightly different directions but most are used in a similar manner. If you are using topical treatments you will likely use a combination of a face wash, toner, and moisturizer or acne cream.

Many individuals mistakenly think they need to wash their face constantly throughout the day. However, doing so may actually harm your skin more than you think. Instead, wash once or twice daily with a mild, but effective, acne treatment unless otherwise instructed by your dermatologist.

The most effective way to wash your face is with warm, not hot, water. You typically need just one or two pumps of an effective acne treatment. Use your finger tips to rub in the face wash and when you rinse be sure to splash your face instead of using a harsh wash cloth to remove it.

You can follow your washing routine with a toner to close your pores and a moisturizer. Look for a moisturizer with acne fighting ingredients to further improve your skin.

Sometimes treating acne on the surface isn’t as effective as you would like. If you find that to be the case, look for an acne-fighting serum and even an oral treatment. That way you can attack acne from all angles, including at the source.

Are Acne Treatments Safe?

When used properly acne treatments are safe. However, some ingredients cause irritating side effects. To prevent these side effects, start with a low concentration and build up to where you can use the recommended amount. This is usually enough to prevent or eliminate side effects.

One thing to note is that many topical acne treatments increase your skin’s sensitivity to the sun. Therefore, it’s even more important than usual to be sure you are using a good sunscreen. Just check to make sure it’s non-comedogenic and non-acnegenic to prevent new pimples from developing.

It’s Time to Reveal Clear, Smooth Skin!

Using the right acne treatment for your skin and type of acne can help you to finally achieve the smooth, blemish-free skin you have always wanted.

Now that you know everything you need to know about acne treatments, take a look at our huge inventory. We have something for everyone!

You may also find it helpful to read the reviews from real users so you can find the best acne treatment that will work for you!