1. Clear skin maintenance products to prevent blemishes from returning



2. Acne relief and spot specific treatments

3. Specialized medications presribed by medical professionals

Those that fall into the preventative category are based around general skin conditioning to help stop acne from forming; these products can be anything from skin cleansers to makeup removers. Whilst many sufferers use these products there are even more who just want to keep their skin clean and conditioned; many use these products to protect their skin from the environment even if they do not have the acne condition. Many of these cleansers act in almost exactly the same way as acne skin care products; they clean out the pores to help stop sebum or oil which can clog these areas. These types of products are reducing the chance of oil staying in the pores and aiding the growth of harmful bacteria which assists the formation of the skin condition.

Other skin care treatments can help exfoliate the skin; these are easily obtainable in any drug store. The peels clean the skin by removing all surface pollution and dead skin cells which can block the pores. There is a huge market for these types of acne skin care products as they don't require a consultation with a dermatologist. Most of these creams etc. are based on benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, both of which are the enemies of bacteria (and hence acne); they are designed to extract the excess oil that bacteria need to promote the development of acne.

Generally it is best to start using this type of product with only a small amount of benzoyl peroxide (less than 5.5 percent is recommended), just to see how the skin reacts; should a reaction occur, products containing alpha hydroxy acid are generally safer. As with any type of zit cream, you may need to try a few acne skin care products until you find one that will suit your skin; however, if finding an effective remedy it is proving to be a problem then consult with your doctor, or skin care specialist. There are benefits of seeing your doctor or dermatologist, they can prescribe you with a prescription for treatments not available over the counter, for example a course of antibiotics.

Your dermatologist may suggest a minor surgical procedure to remove the contents of pustules; this is not something you should ever attempt yourself. Your doctor may even suggest a course of hormone therapy as a skin care treatment; hormone changes are known to be one cause of acne. There is no longer any reason to despair if you have this skin complaint or are prone to its effects.