The Best Treatment For Acne
Finding the best treatment for acne can be a little overwhelming at first.
With the various types of acne treatments in the stores, how do you know which is the best acne treatment for you?
The good news is that there are only a few major types of acne treatment regimes.
The Best Treatment for Acne – Breaking It Down
When it comes to getting the best acne treatment, it helps when you understand what the causes of acne are. While there are only a few major types of acne medication, each of them stop acne through different ways.
People suffer from acne mainly because their skin pores get clogged up with excessive oil and dirt. As a result of these clogged pores, an infection can occur that causes acne to break out.
Some people tend to suffer from excessively oily skin as a result of their sebaceous glands overproducing sebum. Others may suffer acne breakouts because of an imbalance in hormonal levels.
With each type of cause, there is a good treatment that you can use for it.
The Most Common Acne Treatment Used
These common acne treatments are often effective for the majority of people. Some of it is common sense and the rest of them can be bought over the counter. While the most common medication used is acne, whether it is the best treatment for acne really depends on the individual.
Benzoyl Peroxide – The Best Acne Treatment?
Most people are able to get acne relief with acne treatments based on benzoyl peroxide. Depending on how severe your acne is, there are different concentration levels of benzoyl peroxide to choose from.
From as low to 2.5% up to 10%, most acne sufferers are able to clear their acne and pimple outbreaks.
How Benzoyl Peroxide works. Benzoyl Peroxide works by providing oxygen to the skin and follicles. Since the acne causing bacteria (P. Acnes) cannot survive in an oxygen rich environment, this excess oxygen kills it off.
This particular treatment for acne, while killing off the P. Acnes bacteria, does not decrease the oil produced by your sebaceous glands. If the cause of your acne breakouts is due to excessive oil production, you will find that you need to continue using Benzoyl Peroxide on a regular basis.
Side Effects of Benzoyl Peroxide. Unfortunately, Benzoyl Peroxide is not without some side effects. Essentially, the most common side effects of using Benzoyl Peroxide include:
- Dryness of skin
- Irritation of your skin
- Contact Dermatitis (red, dry, itchy skin)
- Allergic Reaction – Some people (1-2%) may experience an allergic reaction of itchiness and redness (discontinue use if this happens)
- Premature Skin Aging – Creates free radicals which causes premature skin aging.
While the side effects are generally quite mild, if you intend or need to use benzoyl peroxide on a regular basis, you will need to counteract some of the side effects.
Counteract The Side Effects of Benzoyl Peroxide
One way to counteract the side effects of using Benzoyl Peroxide is to use a non-comedogenic moisturizer. By applying non-comedogenic moisturizer twice a day, you can help to control the dryness and flaking of the skin that comes with prolonged use of Benzoyl Peroxide.
It is important to use moisturizer as it will not only help to control the dryness and flaking, it actually helps to moderate oil production in the long run. When the skin is excessively dry, your body may try to compensate by increasing the levels of oil production that you do not want to happen.
Benzoyl Peroxide – The Best Treatment For Acne?
While benzoyl peroxide is one of the most commonly used, whether it is the best treatment for acne for you depends on why you have acne breakouts. For the majority of people, using benzoyl peroxide as the first line of over the counter acne treatment usually gives them good results.
If you have sensitive skin, you may want to read Best Acne Treatment for Sensitive Skin to get some good tips.
For severe nodular or cystic acne, the best treatment for acne may be stronger medications like Accutane (Isotretinoin). However, if you have severe acne you may just need to see a dermatologist or medical professional for advice.