Acne Products – Various Kinds That You Can Purchase To Help You
There are many acne products on the market offering promises to make your life acne free. Advertising is geared to convince the individual that a particular product is the miracle cure, when there may be nothing to substantiate the claim. Most products offer hollow promises that leave your pockets equally empty. Acne medicine is specialized and depends on skin type, skin tone, where the breakouts occur, and if the individual has severe acne or not.
Mild to moderate acne can be controlled with a large variety of acne products, but few products can make you completely acne free. Benzoyl peroxide is one of the most common acne treatments and can be safely used by nearly anyone. Benzoyl peroxide works by killing the bacteria that causes acne while also drying your skin. Products with benzoyl peroxide can be used by people with a many different skin tones and is very effective at treating mild to moderate acne on the face.
Acne products that contain sulfur can also help people with mild to moderate acne. Sulfur is very effective because it unclogs the pores by removing dead cells while also promoting the healing process. Some sulfur products have anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory ingredients to reduce redness and swelling while further preventing acne breakouts.
Salicylic acid is another common ingredient in acne products. While this agent has strong exfoliating properties, these properties may be too strong for facial skin and sensitive locations on the body. Salicylic acid causes irritation and could do more harm than good for severe acne, despite its ability to free clogged pores and help with breakout control.
For severe acne, a dermatologist’s help may be needed to become free from acne. Accutane and Retin-A are two common acne products that are very effective, but have a long list of very serious potential side effects. One should seriously consider the possible repercussions of using these prescription acne treatments.
Antibiotics can also be used to control severe acne by fighting the bacterial infection at the source. Of the main antibiotics used against severe acne, Minocycline, has the most severe side effects, while the others are much gentler. Compared to other prescription acne products, the newer, gentler antibiotics may be the best option for many people.
Although strong acne products work well against severe acne, some acne sufferers may actually make their acne worse by attempting to “pop” pimples prematurely. When a person does this, there is a chance that the pimple will break into the skin instead of outwards. When this happens, the infection goes deeper, forming a cystic nodule, which is the most severe type of acne.
No matter how severe your acne breakouts become, there are acne products available that give you a good chance of being acne free. However, in addition to using effective acne products, you must practice good skin care to prevent reoccurrences or aggravating current breakouts.
How important is a healthy diet to preventing acne?
It is no coincidence that people who eat healthy food tend to have skin that shines and glows. In contrast, think of someone you know who eats nothing but junk food. It is likely that they have some issues with acne. Experts agree that a good, healthy diet can go a long way towards either preventing acne or helping diminish it. The Chinese believe, and have been widely accepted in their belief, that acne is solely attributed to a poor diet. They claim that too much sugar or grease leads to the potential for acne. Thus, they discourage the consumption of excessive amounts of chocolate and fried foods. Fruits and vegetables are generally considered better for the skin and a deterrent to acne. Another factor known to eliminate acne is continual drinking of water. Drinking plenty of it is your best bet to avoid acne.
What else can help prevent or treat acne?
People have tried nearly everything to reduce the effects of acne. Some methods have had more success than others. Because acne is the result of chemical reactions within the body, it is widely believed that keeping consistent levels of hormonal activity is a good way to avoid acne. Avoiding stress or extreme levels of sexual activity has been known to lessen the effects of acne, if not prevent it altogether.
Once acne occurs, exfoliation of the skin can reduce its effects. Several over-the-counter medications exist, but their value is continually in question. As with all medications, a doctor should always be consulted before trying something new to rid yourself of acne. Short bursts of cortisone sometimes help reduce the swelling that comes from acne, but they do nothing for the bacteria gathering beneath the surface of the skin. To date, there is no miracle cure for acne, but trying different combinations of solutions may help ease the problem.