Articles

During your acne-prone years you'll go through a lot of different types of acne products in hopes of finding one that will work for you. This is because there is such a large variety of over-the-counter (OTC) acne products that treat mild to moderate acne or periodic breakouts that it's not an easy to make a choice when you're confronted with so many options. So how can you make the right choice?

Most of the time you're so overwhelmed with all the different types of acne products that you'll basically base your decision on a friend's recommendation. You'll buy whatever worked on him or her and hope that it'll do the same for you, however, you're not the same person, nor do you have the same skin care needs. So, before you grab the cheapest acne medication you need to understand how OTC acne products work and what ingredients to look for. Once you have the basics for an acne free life you'll be equipped enough to develop a gentle skin care regimen that can treat and prevent acne breakouts.

Acne products treat acne causes

Acne is formed when 3 main factors coincide:

*Surplus of sebum produced by the body

*Closed pores

*Bacteria proliferation

Acne solutions: What works and why

Pimple products effectiveness depend greatly on their active ingredient. Here is a short list of some of the most common active ingredients found in the majority of all skin care products.

*Benzoyl peroxide: This ingredient is probably the most effective active ingredient in acne products. Benzoyl peroxide kills P. acnes and helps remove excess oils from the skin while removing dead skin cells that clog pores.

*Salicylic acid: This ingredient prevents the pores from clogging by slowing down the shedding of cells inside the hair follicles. It also helps break down blackheads and whiteheads.

*Alcohol and acetone: Alcohol and acetone are often available in astringents and other cleansing washes. These ingredients are also very helpful in removing dirt and oils from the skin, keeping it clean and clear of acne producing elements.

*Natural ingredients: Natural ingredients gently help treat skin care concerns especially when our immune system reacts to an injury with inflammation or an inflammatory response. When this type of response occurs we try to soothe it by applying chemical laced products that can actually destroy our own skin cells and skin structures. This is why you should take the time to find products that contain special natural ingredients that are gentle on your skin and capable of restoring lost skin structures.

There are a wide range of products and ingredients that can treat acne; however, not every product is apt for your specific acne treatment needs.