Best Acne Treatment

How to Choose the Best Acne Treatment

The best acne treatment can treat acne successfully, giving an individual’s skin a renewed glory. These best acne treatment are not harsh on the skin, but rather, help give the skin the treatment it needs to glow. There are many different kinds of acne treatments, including procedures that are done in a dermatologist office, creams, face washes and cleansers, toners and serums. Each individual will respond differently to various treatments.

What is acne?

To understand the best acne treatment for an individual, one will first need to understand about acne. Acne is defined as infected or inflamed sebaceous glands in the skin. Acne is often described as whiteheads, blackheads, pimples, papules, pustules, cysts, nobules, or zits. Acne can be present at any stage of life, but often happens during puberty or the onset of it. It is not a serious condition, but is often embarrassing for those that suffer with it. Acne is believed often to be caused by a rise in androgen hormone levels. Things that affect acne include stress, anxiety, menstrual cycle, oil based makeups, oily hair, picking at the skin, heredity, some types of medications, and hot or humid climates. Things that make acne worse include picking at the skin, pollution and high humidity, hard scrubbing of the skin, pressure from clothing or backpacks that rub against the acne area, and not keeping the hair or the skin clean enough.

Acne are very common, effecting about 75% of 11 to 30 year old individuals. It can appear on the face, back, chest, neck, and shoulders. There are different kinds of acne. Those kinds of acne include:

  • Whiteheads- clogged pores that are not inflamed. They are flesh colored and create bumps under the skin. They remain closed under the skin.
  • Blackheads- clogged pores that are not inflamed but are open under the skin. The sebum and keratin is oxidized due to the air, so the pores turn black.
  • Papules- A clogged pore that is inflamed. The area is usually tender and raised. Papules are not filled with pus, but can fill up with pus later.
  • Pustules- Pustules are hard, inflamed, and full of pus that is white or yellow in the center. They are often referred to as zits.
  • Nodules and cysts- A large painful bump under the skin that can scar and take some time to go away. Nodules will be filled with nothing but are hard, while cysts are filled with pus and feel like a fluid filled sac under the skin.

One very common practice for a best acne treatment is the Elos acne treatment, which was first introduced in 2000. Elos is the first and only technology of its kind, which combines blue light energy with bi-polar radio frequencies. This combination will penetrate deep into the skin to kill bacteria causing the acne, and will also slow the sebaceous glands from producing so much oil. It has been effective in treating all skin types, with a numbing cream used to help an individual’s comfort level. There is no downtime associated with this treatment, and normal activities can be done immediately after. Most individuals need 3 treatments that are spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart, however, more or less treatments may be needed based on the condition of the skin.

Acne treatments work hard to heal the pimples and acne on the skin, as well as stop new pimples and acne from forming. The best acne treatments will prevent scarring as well as help reduce the pain and embarrassment of having acne. Often times the best way to prevent scars is to treat the acne early.

How does an individual pick the best acne treatment?

Not all acne treatments are created equally. Some have higher quality ingredients in them, or have higher concentrations of ingredients in them. Some use only medical or pharmacy grade ingredients. Some must be prescribed by a doctor or dermatologist, while other treatments must be performed in the dermatologist office. Which ever best acne treatment an individual has decided to use, there are some things he or she should look for in the best acne treatments. Those include:

  • Look for cleansers with benzoyl peroxide to kill bacteria. Look for a concentration of 10% strength so irritation is minimal. Benzoyl peroxide is great for those with mild to moderate acne. Benzoyl peroxide is found in both OTC (over the counter) and prescription products. Those with sensitive skin should use caution using benzoyl peroxide as it can be very drying to the skin, and may cause burning or stinging.
  • Salicylic acid is found in many of the best acne treatments. Wipes, gels, sprays, creams and cleansers could contain salicylic acid. This acid can help to unclog pores, leaving the pores free from unwanted bacteria. Start with a 2% solution to start with as it can cause a mild stinging sensation.
  • Look for formulas that have an unprecedented amount of clinical actives. Without Surgery by Advanced Dermatology is a clinical care system that will not dry the face but rather alter the chain reaction that causes acne. This non-invasive skincare product was created by scientist with a concentration of 79%+ clinically active ingredients. Most brands only contain 10-20% clinically active ingredients. The ingredients fight all the types of acne listed above, fighting acne 3 times faster than other number one acne fighting systems.
  • Sulfur- Sulfur is used many times to remove unwanted dead skin cells. Use caution when using products with sulfur as they may have a strong smell and can cause excessive dryness. Sulfur is often combined with other ingredients, such as benzoyl peroxide.
  • Alpha hydroxy acids are used in many OTC products. Two of the better known alpha hydroxy acids include lactic acid and glycolic acid. They are both derived from sugar containing fruits. Acne is treated with alpha hydroxy acids by removing dead skin and helping to reduce any inflammation on the skin. Smoother skin will form, which will create fewer acne scars.
  • Prescription drugs- Oral prescription drugs are often prescribed for individuals with moderate to severe acne. These oral drugs, or antibiotics, are used to curb the growth of bacteria that is on the skin. This will then decrease the inflammation in the skin. They are often prescribed to be taken daily, for up to 6 months at a time, then gradually tapered off as the skin clears.
  • In office procedures to treat acne. These could include the Elos treatment listed above, chemical peels, light treatments, and microdermabrasion.

To find the best acne treatment for an individual, it may be best to seek the care of a skin specialist. A skin specialist will be able to evaluate the skin, discussing several options that could be available to use for treatments. The treatments could be ones that are done in the skin specialist’s office, or could be products that were designed to eliminate acne. A combination of an in office procedure and at home use product may be needed to fully eliminate acne once and for all. Do note that many times a product can take 4 to 8 weeks for the skin to get used to the treatment to see results.

9 replies
  1. Jen
    Jen says:

    I have suffered with acne for many years and just want to be done with it now. I am yet to find the best acne treatment for my skin. I am tired of looking in the mirror and seeing a pimply face. I would love to try the Elos technology. I have never heard of it before but really feel that it could benefit me greatly. I feel that my skin is not getting as clean as it should be and the bacteria is just sitting there. This stated that Elos would help to kill the bacteria, which I would be very excited about. If it did that, then maybe, just maybe my face would start to look good

    Reply
  2. looking!
    looking! says:

    I am yet to find an acne treatment that does all that it was promised to do. I have looked and tried many different treatments and skincare. I try what my friends use and that is no use. I do think that I should go to the dermatologist and see what they recommend for me. I would not mind getting some sort of professional treatment or even having something they prescribe for me to wash my face with. Just anything to kick this acne to the curb!

    Reply
  3. interesting!
    interesting! says:

    I am very interested in trying the Without Surgery by Advanced Dermatology skin care product. I have had acne now for about 4 years and just hate it. I have tried many different kinds of cleansers, both high in price and just drug store brands. I wash my face twice daily and also use a toner. But nothing seems to work. This product sounds like it really gets into the pores to clean them deep down. I would be all for that as my pores just seem to be huge right now. No matter what I do I can not shrink them. They must be full of oil and dirt to clog them and make them look bigger. I do hope that this will be the solution for me finding the best acne treatment!

    Reply
  4. Fancy
    Fancy says:

    I would love to have beautiful clear skin. Since the time that I was 13 years old, I have had acne. I am now 21 years old and it just does not seem to be letting up for me. I have read so many myths about acne that it is really hard to keep it all straight. Part of me does not even know what I should be looking for when I get an acne treatment, let alone what the best acne treatment is. So glad that I found this article to set me straight and to realize what I need in a cleansing regime. I am also very interested in trying out the Elos technology. This seems like it might be something that I could do. I am more willing to try it out since it does not hurt and others have stated that it is very comfortable. And I like the fact that there is not any local anesthesia that is given.

    Reply
  5. Karen D.
    Karen D. says:

    I feel so bad for my daughter. She is only 17 years old but suffers from really bad acne. She first got acne when she was 15. And since then, I have bought her everything new that comes out. All different sorts of face washes, creams, toners. She has tried natural remedies as well. And sadly nothing has worked for her. I wonder if the Elos treatment can be used for her. She is pretty close to an adult in age, and I know that many times dermatologist might not like doing some of these treatments on so called children. But I feel the need to do something about it. Kids are cruel to her, call her pizza face or pimple head. So rude and mean! And she takes it. Lets it roll right off her back but deep down it really bothers her. I had never heard of Elos til now, but I am going to call my dermatologist tomorrow and see if they offer it and if they will consult with my daughter. It is worth a try and I will do anything to make my daughter feel more beautiful.

    Reply
  6. help please
    help please says:

    I have always had gorgeous skin until I got pregnant with my daughter. Then I started to break out. I know that pregnancy acne is normal, but it lasted well after my pregnancy. Fast forward two years and I got pregnant with my son. Well, the acne returned full force, but much worse this time. He is now a year old and the acne is still there! I cover it well with lots of makeup and concealer, but I am very self conscious about it. I do not even like to go to bed without makeup as I hate looking so awful for my husband. I would love to try the Without Surgery by Advanced Dermatology. I think that if I could find a product like this, I would use it faithfully. I have tried a few acne treatments on the market today, but none of them are what I would consider to be best acne treatments. They may start to work but then after a while I just feel they are just something to cleanse my face with, not really helping much. Where can I find this Without Surgery at? Would my dermatologist office have it or can I order it online?

    Reply
  7. Salicylic!
    Salicylic! says:

    I swear by salicylic acid! This acid works miracles on my skin. I use a face wash with a smaller concentration in it, because I do not want to dry out my face, but it really helps to clean out my pores and make my face clean. I have been using it now for about a year, and my face has never looked better. I agree that some of the best acne treatments on the market do have this in them. However, it is worth saying that not all will have luck with this. Just because it works for me does not mean it will work for you.

    Reply
  8. Van
    Van says:

    I have never had much luck with just sticking to one acne treatment product for over the counter stuff. I have to rotate every few months so my skin does not get used to a product. I am not sure if anyone else has this issue, but it seems to me that one product will work really well for 3 or 4 months and then suddenly acne appears again. I usually wash my face with one cleanser in the morning and then another one at night, and switch it up in a few months time. Is this OK to be doing, does everyone think? Sure I still get a few pimples here and there but nothing like I once was getting.

    Reply
  9. Helen
    Helen says:

    When I was 16, my acne was very bad. I had it since I was 11! Finally I had enough and went to see my dermatologist. He told me that I needed to wash twice daily with an antibacterial cleanser, and then apply a cream that he had given me. I also had pills to take for a few months. Well, it did work wonders for me, but I still got four to eight pimples a week. Much better though than the twenty or so that I was getting! I have a few pimples now, but also have some scarring on my face. I would love to go to a dermatologist and have Elos, a chemical peel or microdermabrasion done. Maybe this would kick start my face into healing and looking good for once.

    Reply

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