Acne Info

Facial Acne Treatment: Your Options And How They Work

Looking for facial acne treatment? The good news is that as terrible as acne sounds, it’s completely curable and very much preventable. Even better, many acne medications can be bought without prescriptions. But with so many options for facial acne treatment lining the shelves, how do you know which ones to try and which ones to avoid?

Acne products work differently, depending on their active ingredients. Some acne products work by removing the excess oils that are causing those breakouts. Others work by removing dead skin cells and speeding up the growth of new ones. There are also products that kill P.acnes, or the bacteria behind the inflammation. And sometimes, you get lucky and find a product that works by doing all three. So, what exactly should you look for in your facial acne treatment?

Below are the ingredients you will commonly find in acne products, as well as how they help you get rid of acne.

Salicylic acid.  OTC products with salicylic have it anywhere from 0.5 to 2 percent. While this ingredient prevents the clogging of pores and breaks down blackheads and whiteheads, you still don’t want to use too much of this. Even in mild doses, this acid can cause skin irritation and stinging.

Alcohol and acetone. Often found in cleansing washes and astringents, this mixture removes the oils and dirt that clog pores. Again, you don’t want too high a concentrate of this in your product; when used, this products a mild stinging or burning sensation.

Sulfur and resorcinol. These two remove dead skin cells and excess oils that clog pores. They also break down blackheads and whiteheads. The catch is that within several days of use, these two also cause peeling and redness.

Benzoyl peroxide. Perhaps the most effective of all facial acne treatment components, benzoyl peroxide kills P. acnes, removes excess oils, and eliminates dead skin cells that usually clog pores. The downside is that this makes the skin more sensitive to UV exposure and usually causes redness, minor swelling, scaling, and excessive dryness.

To minimize irritations, it’s best to err on the side of caution and try a facial acne treatment that is relatively lower strength. Once you have gotten used to the product, you may increase the frequency of application or switch to a stronger treatment. Either way, you will notice your skin clearing of acne.