Acne is one of the most common skin problems, with most people experiencing at least a small case of acne, such as a blackheads or whiteheads, several times during their lives. When facing an acne breakout, the sheer amount of products on the market can be overwhelming. Luckily, there are a few products that stand out as most likely to help treat your acne successfully.
Salicylic Acid
Salicylic acid is one of the most common ingredients in most over-the-counter acne products, and some prescription products. Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid that treats acne by addressing your skin. Salicylic acid works by reducing the rate in which your skin cells shed, states the New Zealand Dermatological Society, reducing the amount of material available to form acne plugs in your follicles. It also works to break down keratin, a protein that makes up a large portion of your skin. This clears up acne outbreaks by breaking down any current plugs on your skin.
Benzoyl Peroxide
Benzoyl peroxide can also be found in several over-the-counter products, as well as some prescription strength treatments. Benzoyl peroxide primarily works by addressing the acne-related bacteria Propionibacterium acnes, or P. acnes. Benzoyl peroxide penetrates acne clogged follicles and introduces lethal amounts of oxygen to the P. acnes bacteria, reducing populations on the skin and helping to clear up acne.
Tea Tree Oil
When looking for a natural treatment that works on acne tea tree oil can be an effective substitute for benzoyl peroxide. In fact, the Mayo Clinic suggests that a five percent solution of tea tree oil is as effective as a five percent solution of benzoyl peroxide, although, the tea tree oil takes longer to work on the acne outbreak.
Prescription Medications
When acne outbreaks become more serious, such as with acne pustules, cysts and nodes, your doctor may suggest prescription medication for treatment. Successful treatment options vary depending on your specific acne case but may include the following: antibiotics, such as erythromycin or tetracycline, corticosteroids, or prescription retinoids, such as isotretinoin, tretinoin or adapalene.
Physical Treatments
Physical treatments can also effectively treat your acne. You should never try to pop a acne comedone yourself because of risks of infection. However, your doctor can extract them for you in a sterile setting. For more serious inflammatory acne, your doctor may also treat the area by physically draining the pus from the acne lesions, reducing inflammation and helping the acne heal.
Member Comments