Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Acne Treatments

Acne, sometimes known as Zits, is a menace to people who suffer from this condition; however, many effective treatments are available. A great deal of money is being spent researching the condition; recent medical advancements are, in fact, proving to be very effective in treating this condition. Acne skin care products all fall into one of three main categories:
    *Those that help prevent the condition *Drugstore or Internet: Treatments that do not require a prescription *Prescription only: doctors or dermatologists prescribe special treatments

Probably the largest part of the skin care market is products designed to clean the skin and inhibit the formation of acne; these products can be anything from skin cleansers to makeup removers. This is a market where many people use this type of product every day to condition their skin; there use is not just confined to individuals who are suffer with the complaint. There are acne skin care products that are more specialized in there approach; they work by limiting the production of sebum/oil and prevent clogging of skin pores. These types of products are reducing the chance of oil staying in the pores and aiding the growth of harmful bacteria which assists the formation of the skin condition.

General skin care treatments also include special exfoliation products like skin peels; most are readily available over the counter at drug stores or even online. These work towards removing dead skin cells, reducing the possibility of pore-clogging and bacteria development. There are specialized acne skin care products available over-the-counter, they do not require the need of a prescription. These formulations contain the chemical benzoyl peroxide and the naturally occurring salicylic acid; they are designed to extract the excess oil that bacteria need to promote the development of acne.

Dermatologists recommend any product should have low concentrations of the active ingredient benzoyl peroxide (no more than 5.5 parts per hundred) if there is an adverse reaction; a safer alternative to benzoyl peroxide is anything containing alpha hydroxy acid. As with any type of zit cream, you may need to try a few acne skin care products until you find one that will suit your skin; however, if nothing you try seems to work, you should contact a dermatologist. Products that your dermatologist or doctor will recommend will only be available on prescription, they may include a course of antibiotics or topical ointments.

Under certain circumstances, having the infected material removed from the pores under a local anesthetic may be suggested by your dermatologist; this is not something you should ever attempt yourself. Another effective course of skin care treatment is hormone therapy; studies show that hormone based skin care treatments often prove effective. Tackling this skin condition is not the problem it once was and if treated properly permanently marked skin does not have to happen.