Commercial Remedies for Pimples

The sheer number of products available for acne today is astounding. If you walk into your local store and head to the appropriate aisle, your eyes will widen at the sight of hundreds of acne cleansers, creams, and other products formulated for acne-prone skin. As some who has just started suffering from acne, the feat of choosing a product can be overwhelming. It can even be difficult for acne veterans to distinguish quality products from more ineffective ones. The situation gets no less complicated when you schedule an appointment at your local dermatologist's office. Those who've attended at least several visits know that these doctors stock their own toolkit of various acne medications, each designed to serve one or more purposes. To somewhat obliterate the cloud of confusion that looms over acne products, this article will describe some of them as well as what they are intended for.

We are first going to start with over the counter products. A large portion of OTC acne creams and gels contain benzoyl peroxide, either by itself or with a number of other additives. This additive accomplishes two primary functions in the treatment of acne. First, it targets the p. acnes bacteria which allow inflamed lesions to form. Second, it helps the skin eliminate the main cause of acne, which is dead cells plugging pores.

Benzoyl peroxide is just as effective in low concentrations as it is in higher ones. You will experience more irritation with the 10% cream than you will with its 5% cousin, without any added benefits. This is fine if you use moisturizer, however, it doesn't make much sense to up the concentrations. Bottom-line: stick to the 2.5% form. Some other popular products in acne treatments are sulfur and salicylic acid. These act in much the same way as benzoyl peroxide and are also good choices.

Dermatologists generally prescribe patients multiple medications. The topical medications they prescribe are designed to control acne bacteria and help improve skin cell turnover. For the bacteria, they often recommend medications such as Erythromycin and even benzoyl peroxide. Skin cell turnover is improved with topical retinoids like Retin-A which are derived from Vitamin-A. Sometimes, oral antibiotics are required to further regulate bacteria, the most popular being Tetracycline. Severe cases of acne warrant a medication known as Accutane, which completely halts oil production. Without a trace of sebum, acne cannot form. This is prescribed when other conventional treatments have not worked and as a result the patient is suffering tremendously from the disorder.

When it comes to what specific treatment you should use, it all depends on the type of acne you are suffering from. If you have some whiteheads and blackheads, or a more mild case of acne, you may respond well to OTC treatments. Those with more inflamed lesions than anything else such as cysts and pustules should consider visiting a dermatologist. Prescription medications are often required in these circumstances.

More on topical retinoids acne treatment and how to get rid of acne scars is contained on our website.