Acne is a common skin condition that can be treated by using many over-the-counter skin care products. When attempting to clear your skin, it can be helpful to know which skin care treatments can clear acne the quickest and the safest, without causing side effects on the skin, such as redness or peeling.
Benzoyl Peroxide
Benzoyl peroxide cream eliminates acne by releasing oxygen into the pores, which kill off the bacteria inside the skin that causes acne breakouts. Benzoyl peroxide can be purchased in a few different concentrations, including 2.5 percent, 5 percent and 10 percent strengths. Mild acne should be treated with the lowest strength benzoyl peroxide cream, which will clear the skin gently without causing much irritation. Moderate acne tends to clear more quickly using the medium, 5-percent benzoyl peroxide cream. Severe acne, such as acne cysts and nodules, can be cleared more easily using the highest strength benzoyl peroxide cream. A pea-sized amount of benzoyl peroxide cream should be smoothed onto your skin two times per day.
Salicylic Acid
Salicylic acid gel works to clear acne by regulating the speed at which the skin cells are sloughed away. When the dead skin cells are removed quickly, the pores will be clearer and free of the bacteria that causes acne. Salicylic acid gel can be purchased in 10 percent and 20 percent concentrations. Mild to moderate acne can clear effectively using the 10 percent gel, while severe acne types can clear more easily using the 20 percent salicylic acid gel. A dime-sized amount of salicylic acid gel should be spread onto your skin twice per day.
Tea Tree Oil
Sometimes the skin can become irritated or inflamed when chemical acne treatments are used, causing side effects like peeling, redness and burning on the skin. If you are expereincing these irritations, it may be helpful to try tea tree oil to eliminate acne, which the Department of Dermatology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital suggests can clear acne as well as benzoyl peroxide cream. Tea tree oil kills off the bacteria that causes acne. To apply tea tree oil, soak a cotton swab in pure tea tree oil, then dip it quickly into and out of water. Dab the diluted oil onto active acne breakouts up to three times per day.
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