Acne Skin Care Treatment : Over-the-counter Treatments

Are you an acne sufferer? You may be thinking about the many convenient over-the-counter methods for treating your acne.

You are not alone. As a go-to solution, most people who are acne sufferers will just go to their local pharmacy and buy medication over-the-counter, based on whatever knowledge or information that they get. It could be recommendations from family members and friends, it could be that impressive sales copy from a magazine, it could be that television ad.

However, it is highly advisable to seek consultation with a qualified doctor before you get your hands on any kind of over-the-counter products. The doctor is able to give you his professional opinion on the best and most suitable course of acne skin care treatment for your case.

You can find large numbers of acne skin care treatment products hitting the shelves regularly, and so deciding on which is the best product can be a daunting task. You may be influenced by your friends. But what worked for your friends, may not necessarily work well on you. Your friends may have different levels of complexity of the acne condition, so it is really difficult to judge. The best way is to do your own research on the active ingredients in various acne skin care treatment medications. Here, I have outlined two of the most popular ingredients in acne treatments.

Benzoyl Peroxide

This is one of the most popular active ingredients in acne treatment medications. Found in ointments and gels, the benzoyl peroxide does it's job by fighting the bacteria which causes your acne. Not only that, it will also remove dead skin cells that collect on the surface of your skin. What has it got to do with skin cell? Well, it is these dead skin cells which, when combined with sebum, create the unsightly blackheads, whiteheads, and pimples.

Benzoyl peroxide has so far been proven to be safe and effective. It can also be used as an after-care solution to keep your skin free from the bacteria that causes acne. But like all the other ingredients out there, benzoyl peroxide does have one side effect. Prolonged usage of this ingredient will lead to dry skin. However, this can be prevented by slowly decreasing the frequency of the benzoyl peroxide that is applied to your skin.

Salicylic Acid

Besides the benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid is another popular ingredient used in acne treatment medications. What this acid does is to mainly clear up the dead skin cells which may accumulate too quickly, clogging up the pores as a result. The salicylic acid should continue to be used even after your skin is cleared of acne, to prevent any future outbreaks. Like benzoyl peroxide, the salicylic acid will cause you to have dry and irritated skin.

It is safe to say that the benzoyl peroxide is the most versatile among all the other ingredients for the battle against acne. It can be used in cleansing liquids, lotion, cream and gels which can be applied directly onto your skin. The creams and lotions can be applied onto the affected areas as and when required, while the cleansing medications are usually applied once or twice a day.

Just a word of caution : avoid getting the benzoyl peroxide into contact with your eyes, mouth or nose, as it will cause inflammation and some irritation.

There are a number of treatments available for acne treatment; however, not all of them are to be trusted as affective and helpful. Most of them have severe side affects along, if not used under proper medical supervision. Many people simply take up these over the counter drugs to treat any breakouts that occur, and this may result in more irritation of the skin as well as allergic reactions. Antibiotics, gels, creams, herbal medications are all available over the counter, but instead of grabbing all of them at once, use the lighter, basic ones first.

Before using acne treatments, you have to understand the skin type and which treatment would suit your skin. Acne that is not inflamed can use SALICYLIC ACID products. Use it according to the instructions and if after weeks you still find the condition the same, then you can move on to another product. Acne which is inflamed and give a reddish look can be treated by benzoyl peroxide, the most commonly used over the counter acne treatment. The lotion can be applied for weeks and also mixed with salicylic acid.

Common over the counter acne treatments are products related to BENZOYL PEROXIDE, SALICYLIC ACID, SULFUR & RESORCINOL, ALCOHOL and ACETONE. These come in different strength level ranging from 2.5% to 10% and are packed under products named as PROACTIVE, BENZADERM GEL, GLYTON and many other creams. Sulfur products come with strength level of 2% to 8% and have products such as Clearasil Medicated Blemish Cream, Rezamid Lotion, Glytone Flesh Tinted Acne Treatment Lotion. Salicylic acid has Noxzema Anti-Acne Gel and Dermalogica Medicated Clearing Gel.

Other than the regular acne, if you are suffering from severe acne that doesn’t seem to get over with the regular lotions and gels, then it’s time to take antibiotics. These will help to eliminate the bacteria causing the acne. But before using antibiotics, you will need to consult with a doctor, as these cause severe side affects of vomiting, nausea, lethargic, depression and other factors. Pregnant women who get acne should strictly consult a doctor as drinking these antibiotics may cause severe birth affects.

About Author:
Alice has been an expert in skin health writing specifically on the subject of acne. Her work has been published on various websites and magazines and provides insightful advice for natural acne treatment, skin regimes etc. For more articles on acne and its causes please visit http://www.naturalacneremedy.com/

Adult Acne: The Only Adult Acne Treatment That Worked

The appearance of adult acne in people who never had acne in their adolescent age challenges the belief that acne is related only to hormonal growth, and that you can get rid of acne when puberty comes to an end.

Adult acne can prove really emotionally disturbing for people who have never had acne as teenagers and always had clear blemish free skin. It is really more annoying as they don't have any psychological justification to justify their acne as there is for teen acne.

If you are suffering from adult acne then you have to realize that that any kind of acne does not occur just like that. They have got some reason behind it and until and unless you do something about this internal reason you can never get rid of your adult acne.

This report will help you understand the truth behind adult acne, the difference between the two, i.e. adult acne and teen acne and also you'll learn how you can cure your adult acne completely.

Difference between adult acne and teen acne

Studies have proven the fact that there is a difference between the skin types of adult acne sufferers and teen acne sufferers but the actual reason for any acne is actually the same.

The next question that surely comes to your mind is how come you are suffering from acne now as an adult when you never suffered from acne as a teen.

That is in fact a very good question and in order to get an answer to this question you have to first understand why acne is caused.

The main causes of any kind of acne of any level of severity are hormone imbalance and toxic build up in the lymph, blood, liver, bowels and other elimination organs.

It doesn't matter how severe the toxic build up is, the imbalance in hormones is caused due to two reasons. 1) The body starts producing too many hormones mainly male hormones that lead to the overwhelming of the sebum glands which triggers the production of excess sebum. This generally happens in our adolescent age. Adult acne are caused due to the second cause. 2) The natural hormone regulation system of the body specifically the liver, bowels, lymph stop functioning properly.

Most types of acne are caused by these two causes that of hormonal imbalance and toxic build up but the adult acne are caused by the toxic build up and the second cause, i.e. the incapability of the hormone regulation system to function properly.

But now you might ask why are you suffering from acne now? If you didn't have acne as a teenager then it obviously means that your hormone regulation system must have been working fine then. Well, surely something must have happened that is responsible for the system to malfunction now.

If you didn't have acne when you were a teen and are suffering from adult acne now, that only means two things, 1) There is an accumulation of toxic build up in your blood and lymph, 2) Your normal hormone regulation system is not functioning correctly.

It might be that taking steroids for a long time might have made your liver weak, or you might be taking antibiotics for a long time, or your might have faced a lot of stress lately. Or it might be any other reason, the main thing is now you are suffering from chronic hormonal imbalance and it is causing adult acne.

Cure your adult acne permanently:

Like most of the other acne types and of different severity levels adult acne too is caused due to some deep rooted internal causes which are made worse by various external or lifestyle factors. And the only way to permanently cure the adult acne is to holistically neutralize all the external and internal factors that cause acne. The holistic approach takes care of the external factors while emphasizing on putting the hormone regulation system in right order.

This is the only way you can ensure clear acne free skin forever.

100percentnature. Acne Vulgaris, the 8 Stages of Acne, Skin Care, Adult Acne Treatment, and Scar Removal Options

What is Acne Vulgaris? This is a medical term used to describe most cases of acne. It really isn't as bad as it sounds! Vulgaris doesn't mean that the acne is vulgar, only that it means that it is common.

Be aware that there are many factors that contribute to acne. First, research indicates a propensity for acne may well be inherited. Parents who had acne in their teenage and young adult years may have children who are likewise prone to having acne in their teen and young adult years.

Next, clogged skin pores are certainly a major contributing factor for acne out-breaks. When pores become clogged with an excess production of sebum and mix with dead skin cells or makeup that isn't sufficiently cleaned from the skin, problems start to develop. When skin pores are clogged, bacteria are produced and pus starts to form causing a pimple, a white head or a black head.

The most commonly accepted causes for acne are hormonal imbalances. Hormones in boys and girls may become unbalanced during puberty, during menstrual cycles, when starting or stopping birth control pills, during times of extreme stress, and at other times as well.

All of the above situations can cause the body to over produce a male hormone which causes the sebaceous glands to produce sebum. The sebum combines with dead skin cells to block pores and acne develops. So, basically, it still comes back to blocked pores.

Other causes for acne include a lack of vitamins, minerals and trace elements that the body needs to maintain a healthy skin. Vitamins A, E and B6 are especially important in maintaining healthy skin as are zinc, essential fatty acids (EFA), Chromium and Selenium.

Most diets of teenagers and young adults do not contain these vitamins, minerals, and trace elements in sufficient quantity to maintain healthy skin and to help prevent the onset of Acne.

Acne: The 8 Stages:

Full blown, Stage 8 acne doesn't usually develop overnight. Acne is progressive condition. Acne is one of the diseases that are so common that it is sometimes just disregarded as a serious problem...like the common cold. It has been estimated that 95 of people will have at least a mild case of acne at some point in their lives.

Acne, much like the common cold, is usually treated by the sufferer with over-the-counter medications that alleviate the symptoms of the disease in the belief that it will simply go away all by itself....eventually. And, it usually does but not always.

Most people throughout their life will have the occasional pimple, zit, white head or black head.

Although these pesky little outbreaks do seem to appear at the most inopportune times, they really aren't a serious problem that requires medical attention. A little over-the-counter acne facial wash to help prevent another outbreak will usually take care of the problem. It isn't a big deal. This kind of acne is referred to as Stage 0 and really nothing to be concerned about unless the acne progresses to subsequent stages.

Acne stages are graded from 0 through 8. Zero is the least severe and 8 is the most serious of the stages. The stages are as follows:

Stage 1: There will be white heads and black heads with some mild inflammation. The outbreaks will start to occur more frequently. Using products that contain Benzyl Peroxide are in order.

Stage 2: There will be some papules in addition to the white heads and black heads. Papules are skin lesions that are solid and raised but usually small. This is still considered to be a very mild case of acne. Treatment can be continued using over-the-counter products that contain Salicylic Acid.

Stage 3: Stage 3 is the same as stage 2 but with more frequent occurrences.

Stage 4-5: Pustules begin to appear. Now, it's time to schedule an appointment at a dermatologist.

Stage 6-7: Nodules and cysts are forming. Scarring is going to start happening at this stage. Your dermatologist will begin to take more drastic action.

Stage 8: Breakouts are almost continuous and include nodules and cysts. There are modern technologies that will help and your dermatologist will advise you.

Acne Skin Care:

As we know, our hair follicles secrete sebum. Sebum makes its way up the hair follicles to the skin pores where it lubricates and protects the skin. Sometimes there are oil glands which get overworked, get enlarge, and produce too much sebum. The sebum can get trapped in the hair follicle.

When this happens the pores get clogged and black heads or white heads form and the bacteria start to multiply at an alarmingly fast rate.

Once you understand this process, you can see the reasoning behind the advice about caring for skin that has black heads, white heads and pustules on it.

The first piece of advice about caring for acne infected skin is to never pick at the pimples. Don't try to pop them and drain them. This will not cure them no matter what anybody tells you. Popping them will only serve to make them worse...not better.

However, there are things that you can do that really will help.

The first thing you can do is to wash your face with a mild soap or a sulfur based soap. Wash your face with just your finger tips. Don't ever use a wash cloth as it holds germs and bacteria. Rinse your face with clean water several times to ensure you remove all traces of soap, and then pat it dry with a clean towel. Do not rub your face with the towel and never use the same towel twice without it being clean.

Take a good multi-vitamin and multi-mineral supplement every day and drink at least 8 full glasses of water (not soda) every day. The vitamins and minerals will supply nutrients that are absent from most diets and the water will help to hydrate the skin as well as to flush toxins out of your system.

If you use over-the-counter acne medications, be certain that you follow the directions carefully and that you use a good sunscreen when you are outdoors as some acne medications make the skin more prone to sunburn.

Adult Acne:

Acne is not just a problem for teenagers and young adults. Once a person survives the teenage years, you would think that they don't have to deal with the embarrassment of acne any longer, right? Well....not exactly.

The sad truth is that about 25 of women will have acne at some time in their 20s, 30s or even 40s. Although there has never been a real cause established, it is believed that most adult acne is caused by the same thing that causes teenage acne...hormonal changes.

A doctor will sometimes prescribe hormonal treatments that will clear a case of adult acne right up. As with teenage acne, adult acne is not caused by diet. Stress has often been cited as one possible cause of adult acne but that assertion has never been verified.

Treating adult acne is a bit more difficult than treating teenage acne. Adults have the concern of drying out their skin that teenagers don't normally have to deal with. Adults don't want pimples; but, they don't want wrinkles, either. A dermatologist should be consulted if the acne is long lasting or is severe.

There are many treatments that are available to adults who suffer from acne. Most of the effective treatments are only available by prescription. Adults should not use over-the-counter acne medications that are intended for the treatment of teenage acne. These products tend to dry the skin and adults need to be concerned about wrinkling as well as acne.

A case of adult acne is not a happy occurrence to say because those ugly bumps always seem to occur at the most inopportune times and while a teenager may be embarrassed by acne, an adult is even more devastated.

Fortunately, there are treatments and a dermatologist has a lot of weapons in his arsenal to fight adult acne.

Acne Scar Removal Options:

Life hardly seems fair sometimes! First, a teenager or a young adult must suffer through acne, treat it, and have to live with it...sometimes for years. Then the acne is gone; but, the scars are there as a painful reminder of the mental and emotional agony the acne sufferer had to endure.

You're right, life doesn't seem fair; but, acne is one of those sad facts of life that some if not most of us have to deal with. The good news is there is help; unfortunately, it isn't free or cheap!

There are two basic procedures that are used to remove ugly pits and scars left over from a bad case of teenage or young adult acne. Laser resurfacing is the least expensive of the two available acne scar removal procedures. Dermabrasion is the second procedure.

Laser resurfacing can be done in the dermatologist office instead of a hospital so that provides a much greater financial savings. A laser is used to remove the top layer of skin and also to tighten the middle layer of skin.

The dermatologist will use a local anesthetic to help reduce the procedure pain. It usually takes several days for the skin to heal after a laser resurfacing procedure is completed. Very often, multiple resurfacing treatments must be done to achieve the desired results.

The second procedure used to remove acne scarring is called dermabrasion. In this procedure, a rotating wire brush is used to remove the top layer of skin. The body continually produces new skin and the new layer will be smoother than the layer that was removed. It usually takes between 10 days and 3 weeks for the skin to heal after a dermabrasion treatment. Once again, multiple treatments may be required to eliminate the scarring.

Acne may seem to be a devastating condition but with proper skin routine, vitamins, and over the counter products, most cases will not be severe. Remember, proper cleansing goes a long way towards minimizing outbreaks, so don't be afraid to cleanse your face 5 - 6 times a day of more if needed.

Fight acne by being smart. Take as many preventative steps as possible to avoid situations that create the opportunity for acne to develop. If acne does afflict you, acne treatment Just click

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Anti-aging Acne Skin Care: Start Early For Best Results

When it comes to acne, people between the ages of 10 to 40 are the most likely to be affected. Acne can manifest itself as black and whiteheads, congested pores, pimples, papules, nodules, pustules as well as cysts, roascea or conglobata. If you are a sufferer of acne, the good news is that there are a number of anti aging acne skin care products available that can help you effectively treat this condition. However, you will need to exercise care when using some of these treatments because many of them have side effects, which can be on the negative side and some of which can be extremely serious.

A Number Of Different Options To Take

Taking good care of your skin is very important for both men and women. The skin should be properly moisturized on a regular basis so that any signs of aging will diminish and this can be combined with other various techniques so that the skin is protected against damage from the sun as well. There are so many options out in the marketplace for anti aging acne skin care. However, not all the products are created equal and not all products will provide a satisfactory end result. You should be very selective when it comes to spending your money on all these different products. It's way too easy to spend a ton of money on products that will fail to do the job and in some cases may even make your acne problem worse.

The first thing you should do is to consult with a dermatologist or a skin care expert. Seek their advice on what they feel would be the best anti aging acne skin care solution for you. There are times when the process of removing your acne scars can consume a lot of time because of the fact that there are many types of acne scars. Some of these acne scars that appear on the surface of the skin may prove to be resistant to the current skin care treatment that you are using.

One good option that is very popular is glycolic acid peeks, salicylic acid peels, as well as TCA peels. Dermatologists often recommend these because they worked extremely well not only on acne scars, but also take care of age spots as well as fine wrinkles. Another product that you can try is Bi-phasic peel.

The bottom line is the faster you take action, the better the results will be when it comes to the first signs of acne or aging, as denial will only lead to a worsening of the condition. Using a good anti aging acne skin care treatment will not only help remove and/or reduce wrinkles, but may also have a positive effect on the acne scars since most of the products contain nutrients as well as vitamins. These nutrients and vitamins will help rejuvenate the skin. In addition, if these products also contain Retinol, it's an added bonus because Retinol certainly does have considerable rejuvenating effects on aging skin.

Check out my natural acne treatment and skin care blog- www.highonhealth.org My acne cure mini-course- http My acne cure guidebook- www.eatawayyouracne.com
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