Top Acne Treatments - Which Ones Have You Tried?

Looking for top acne treatments? There is no such thing as the perfect treatment for everyone. Different treatments work differently for different people. The fact that there are too many products claiming to fight acne only makes it harder to make your pick. The operative word here is harder, not impossible, because not only is it possible to find a product you can be happy with for a long time, the selection process gets easier over time!

In a nutshell, top acne treatments work in any or all of these ways: reduce oil production, speed up skin cell turnover, reduce inflammation, fight bacteria or do all four.

Topically, your best bet come in the form of creams and lotions with tretinoin and adapalene. Over-the-counter creams and lotions containing resorcinol, lactic acid, salicylic acid, sulfur, or benzoyl peroxide are also equally effective. Lotions dry up excess oil, kill P. acnes, and help slough off dead skin cells faster. Creams, on the other hand, accelerate skin cell turnover and prevent the clogging of hair follicles, which in turn leads to formation of pimples, blackheads, and whiteheads.

For very stubborn zits, you may opt for antibiotics instead. Prescription antibiotics fight inflammation and reduce bacteria growth exponentially. Often, you will have to take them for months, or use them alongside creams and lotions.

Now, you normally would not think of oral contraceptive as anti-acne. However, studies have shown that women who try a combination of ethinyl estradiol (think Ortho Tri-Cyclen and Ortho-Cyclen) and norgestimate suffer breakouts less and less. Do not try these contraceptives without first discussing it with your doctor, though. They cause side effects that may do you more harm than good, in the long run.

Finally, isotretinoin, light and laser therapies, and cosmetic procedures like microdermabrasion and chemical peels are also being touted as top acne treatments. On the upside, they work faster, with more dramatic results. The downside is that they cost more, and usually require multiple sessions.

Have you tried any of these options? How did it work for you? Would you recommend that others try it, too?

About the Author:

Joseph Ellis is an expert on acnesimpletreatment.com/adult-acne-treatments adult acne treatments and the director of AcneSimpleTreatment.Com. He provides honest information and advice on acnesimpletreatment.com adult acne treatments and all things acne-related. Check out his website now!