The Best Products for My Face & Acne

The Best Products for My Face & Acne
Photo Credit teenage girl with acne 2 image by Kathy Burns from Fotolia.com

Acne can make the face appear rough, dry and unhealthy. It is a condition that many individuals in the United States suffer with, including both teenagers and adults. Fortunately, there are a number of products that can help in treating and preventing acne from occurring or reducing the severity of acne while keeping the face healthy.

Sulfur

Sulfur has been used for approximately 50 years in combination with other acne ingredients, such as resocrinol and alcohol, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Sulfur can be found in many over-the-counter acne treatments. It is not known exactly how sulfur treats acne and clears it up. Sulfur itself is not directly used as an acne treatment due to its unpleasant odor, but it does show results in effectively improving treatment with other acne medications when used in combination.

Accutane

This product is also known under the name isotretinoin. According to the Mayo Clinic, accutane is a powerful medication that is used for severe acne that causes scarring or acne that is not responsive to other treatments. Although it is very effective and shows great results, you must be careful with it as there is a possibility of side effects. It's best that you take accutane under the moderation of a health care professional, such as a dermatologist. Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant should not use Accutane.

Benzoyl peroxide

Benzoyl peroxide helps the face and acne. Benzoyl peroxide works by removing dead skin cells in order to stop comedones from appearing. It also reduces P.acnes. Benzoyl peroxide was one of the first effective acne treatments to be used and it has been a treatment for decades. Benzoyl peroxide can come in lotion, cream, gel or liquid form, according to MedlinePlus. Its best that you use it once or twice daily on the affected areas on your skin.

Salicylic acid

Salicylic acid works by treating non-inflammatory acne lesions and unclogging pores that may result in the appearance of acne. It does not have any effect on sebum production or the bacterium P.acnes, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Once you stop using salicylic acid, acne may reappear.

References

Article reviewed by GlennK Last updated on: Jun 17, 2010

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