Acne Products

 

Confused about acne products

You should know what you want your acne skin care products to do for you

Acne products are on the market to help you treat your acne and keep it under control.  Their main purpose is to keep your skin clean and acne free so you do not have to contend with the emotional problems associated with acne.  Although acne is not a life threatening disease it can be a life disabling disease and rob you of years of enjoyment depending on how you let it control you.

Acne skin care products consist of two parts: the active ingredients and the inactive ingredients. Most people buy the product because of the active ingredient but it is important to understand what the inactive ingredient is as well.

To keep things simple the two most common active ingredients found in acne products will be discussed: benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid.  Benzoyl peroxide is a bleach and antibacterial agent which works by killing the bacteria Propionibacterium acnes.  Salicylic acid is a weak acid which is used to eat the skin cells thus removing blockages at the head of the hair follicle which is blocked.  Both products should be used in the lowest concentration which works for you.

Common concentrations found in the marketplace are 2.5% for benzoyl peroxide and 0.5 to 2 % for salicylic acid.  When you are buying acne products that contain higher levels of these active ingredients you may be paying for something you do not require. 

The majority of acne products come in creams, gels, ointments, foams, lotions or washes.  As well, the carrier can be alcohol, water or oil based.  Oily skin and dry skin are likely best helped by different products which can be a challenge if you have two types of skin that are experiencing acne.  In all cases follow the directions that come with the product as this will enable you to achieve the best results.  To determine if your skin is oily, dry or normal you may want to visit these sites:

http://site.goldendoorskincare.com/graynav/DetermineSkin.html

Now it becomes a bit of a trial and error approach.  When trialing acne products remember it takes one to two months for a zit to form and even the best acne product cannot remove your current acne overnight.  You need to prevent your acne from occurring as you cannot cure it.

National, highly advertized acne skin care products such as Neutrogena, Proactiv, Cetaphil, Clearasil, Clean and Clear, Oxy and PanOxyl are easily available in most stores caring acne products.  Remember though that what works for one person may not work for you but eventually, you will find the acne products that suits your skin condition.  If you are finding you cannot find a solution to your acne you may want to consider talking about it to your local doctor or dermatologist.