Before considering acne treatment of any form, consult your dermatologist, doctor or physician first.

Benzoyl Peroxide

Benzoyl Peroxide is one of the most common and successful forms of acne treatment, effective in treating non-inflammatory acne. Benzoyl Peroxide acts by fighting the bacteria that causes acne, acting as an antiseptic and oxidizing agent to reduce blocked pores or comedones.

It is available in a range of gels, lotions, creams and cleansers in non-prescription concentrations of 2.5%, 5% or 10% and is also available in prescription form such as BenzaClin, Benzamycin, and Duac.

Benzoyl Peroxide is safe to use for both adults and children, can be used with other forms of topical treatment and usually takes 2-4 weeks to work. Note: Side effects may occur.

Proactiv Solution

Proactiv Solution is a 3-step acne skin care management treatment developed by leading dermatologists that work together to heal and clear acne. This is a preferred method of some celebrities and comes in renewing cleaner, revitalizing toner and repairing lotion form. Results have proved to be excellent and pretty effective in dealing with mild or non-inflammatory acne.

Antibiotics

Antibiotics is a topical or oral form of acne treatment and acts to fight the cause of acne, bacteria. The most common form of oral antibiotic treatments are tetracycline, minocycline, doxycycline and erythromycin. Antibiotics will fight to treat your acne but please note, they won’t cure your acne, you have to keep taking them and upping the dosage won’t improve your acne any quicker either. Note: Side effects my occur.

Tretinoin (Retin-A)

Retin-A is a prescription medicine and contains Vitamin A agents that promote skin cell turnover (new skin) while also preventing the formation of new comedones. This form of topical treatment is designed more for comedonal acne, blackheads or whiteheads. Note: Side effects may occur.

Isotretinoin (Accutane)

Accutane acne treatment is a prescription medicine and belongs to the family of medication called retinoids. Accutane acts by decreasing the sebaceous glands, making them less able to form comedones and also fights off bacteria in the glands and on the skin surface. Note: Side effects may occur.

Contraceptive Pills

Some women or teenage girls can produce excessive amounts of androgens (hormones) which can result in more oil producing glands and be a cause of acne. Some forms of birth control methods have proved successful in combating this type of acne. Consult your doctor or physician.

Salicylic Acid

Salicylic acid is a mild form of acid that works as an keratolytic agent to kill dead skin cells. This is a safe and practiced method that peels away the layer of affected skin to help establish new regrowth of healthier skin. Best used for mild forms of acne or oily skin. Salicylic acid comes in various lotion, cream or medicated pad forms.

Adapalene (Differin)

Adapalene is a form of prescription medicine that works by keeping skin pores clear so acne can’t form and is designed for fighting mild or non-inflammatory acne. Note: Side effects may occur.

Herbal Acne Treatment

While alternative herbal acne treatment isn’t clinically proven to combat or ease acne suffering some acne sufferers have tried different herbal remedies and noted results so it is wise to never rule our herbal treatment as everyone is different and what doesn’t work for one, may work for another.

Acne Scar Treatment

There are various forms or methods of acne scar treatment either to remove scarring, improve scarring or to minimize the potential of scarring from acne. Here we explore what methods, products and treatment are available to you the acne scar sufferer.

There are several factors that can cause acne such as hormonal changes in adolescence or pregnancy, birth control pills, bacteria in the skin pores and use of anabolic steroids among other things.

One important factor behind acne experts believe is an increase in the male sex hormones androgens which increase in both boys and girls during adolescence that cause the sebaceous glands to enlarge, creating more sebum (oily secretion).

Experts also believe acne to be in part, hereditary.

Types Of Acne

There are two types of acne, non-inflammatory acne and inflammatory acne.

Non-Inflammatory Acne

Whitehead (closed comedo) – Whiteheads, pimples that don’t break the surface, are called closed comedo’s and appear as small, white bumps.

Blackhead (open comedo) – Blackheads, pimples that break the surface, are open comedo’s and appear as small, black pins. Note: This isn’t dirt but a buildup of dark skin pigment called melanin.

Inflammatory Acne

Papule – Papule is the mildest and most common form of early development acne and appear as small, but firm pink bumps that are usually tender to the touch.

Pustule – Pustule is a similar lesion to Papule, however this form of acne contains pus as the name suggests, appearing as small, bumpy reddish and yellowish spots.

Nodule or Cyst – This form of acne comes in a large form and is often painful. Nodules are puss-filled lesions lodged deep into the skin and is the severest form of acne, often leaving scarring with most forming into cysts once hardened.

Acne Conglobata – This is the rarest form of acne and the most serious stage. Appearing on the buttocks, chest and back, Conglobata usually contains bacteria.

Acne Treatment

Treatment can vary from topical treatment such as benzoyl peroxide – a cream, lotion or gel consisting of antiseptic, antibiotic and oxidizing agents – or oral treatment in the form of standard antibiotics or retinoids.

Acne scar treatment can vary from lazer treatment that penetrates the affected area burning away the scar, to skin peels that peel away bad skin to reveal healthy unaffected skin.

In this day and age acne suffering is treatable and if you are considering treatment It is highly advisable that you seek professional advice from a dermatologist or your physician regarding your acne problems.