The Best Acne Treatments Available
Acne can be treated using many different methods, some medicinal, some natural. The best treatment is actually prevention, but not always achievable. Acne affects almost all teenagers and a large portion of the adult population. Acne treatments range from cheap over the counter remedies to expensive prescriptions. Acne starts from the inside of the body, so it is important to select a treatment that works on the inside of the body as well as on the skin surface.
There are many different brand names, the name on the package is not very important, the important part is the ingredients, mainly the active ingredient. Please take note of the ingredients and do some research so that you can make an informed decision on your acne treatment purchase, some of the ingredients are not very effective and others have harmful side effects.
The ingredient benzoyl peroxide is found in most of the effective acne treatment medications. It was first developed in the 1920's by Revlon to treat acne. There is one drawback to benzoyl peroxide, in large quantities it is carcinogenic and has been known to induce cancer. However, the concentration of benzoyl peroxide in the typical acne treatment medicine is 2.5% to 10% for both over the counter and prescription forms.
Some of the most popular treatments for a most of the people who suffer with acne are ProActiv, Accutane, and Retin-A. Your mileage may vary with these products; all of these do not work for all of the people.
ProActiv is an over the counter remedy, it does contain prescription grade Benzoyl peroxide. ProActiv is 3 products in 1. There is a cleanser, a toner, and a lotion. Side effects may be redness, itching, hives, swelling, and a burning sensation when applied. It may also cause dryness and peeling of the skin.
Accutane is an oral prescription medication. Accutane is used to treat severe cases of acne, its drug name is Isotretinoin. Accutane is a brand name of the drug. There are very strict requirements when it comes to prescribing Accutane due to the harmful side effects. It is derived from Vitamin A and is found naturally in small amounts in the body. Accutane should be a last result. It is known to cause birth defects. There are many other side effects associated including depression and other psychological problems.
Retin-A, which is a brand name for the drug Tretinoin has very few side effects, and is available in both prescription and over the counter forms. It comes in the form of a cream or a gel. Retin-A is used to treat a variety of skin problems other than acne.
If you have mild or less than mild acne you should start with ProActiv. If ProActiv doesn't work, try Retin-A next. Avoid using Accutane unless you have severe acne and you have tried all other remedies, and if you do decide that you want to give Accutane a try, make sure that you weigh the potential side effects carefully. As always follow your dermatologist's directions concerning any of these medications.
These are the most effective treatments for acne, there are quite a bit more expensive than other remedies but they have shown to be well worth the expense. People spend billions of dollars purchasing inexpensive acne treatments that simply do not work. Save your money and investment, get something that works the first time, don't waste your money on the many products that do not work. If you try one of the less expensive methods and it works, then keep using that, but if not, you should try one of the 3 methods mentioned earlier. Always discuss your options with your dermatologist.
Some ways to help cure the acne are to keep the face clean and keep hair and hands off your face, use the treatment as directed, and give the treatment time to work. If you don't do these things, no matter what treatment you try, it will fail. You should also remember that what works for some people may not work for others. The best acne treatments are not always the best for everyone. What worked for one person may cause your acne to become worse. Try to find the best acne treatment for you and make sure you give it time to work.
To read more on acne treatment, as well as interesting facts about laser acne treatments, check out http://acne-treatment.datafeet.com.