If you frequently suffer from acne outbreaks, there are several topical skin care products available as an alternative to oral prescription drugs. Acne medicine in the form of topical creams or gels generally has fewer and less serious side effects.

What Causes Acne

Acne occurs when a hair follicle becomes clogged and bacteria grow on the surrounding skin. The overgrowth of bacteria causes the skin to become inflamed and the result is acne in the form of pimples, blackheads, whiteheads, and boils.

Mild acne can be treated with over-the-counter formulations, but moderate to severe cases call for stronger prescription acne medicine.

Acne Affects All Ages

When someone mentions acne, the first thought that comes to mind is a pimply-faced teenager. But acne is not restricted to this age group. Both young and middle aged adults make up a large percentage of patients who use acne skin care products on a regular basis.

Like teens, adult patients often feel embarrassment and anxiety about their skin's appearance. Finding an acne medicine that works quickly and prevents future outbreaks is important to acne sufferers of all ages.

Acne Skin Care Tip - Seek a Physician's Advice

It's best to seek a dermatologist's advice before selecting an acne medicine to use over the long term. Some skin care products are effective initially but after extended use they may not produce the same results.

A dermatologist is better qualified than your family physician to recommend an acne medicine that best suits your skin care needs, depending upon the severity and frequency of your acne outbreaks.

Advantages of Topical Creams as Acne Medicine

Some prescription acne medicine in pill form can produce unwanted side effects almost as troubling as the acne itself. In order to avoid these complications, many doctors will prescribe a topical cream instead of oral medications.

These acne skin care creams and gels are often just as effective as skin care pills. Topical skin care products can also be used by patients who may be unable to take prescription pills due to drug interactions.

BenzaClin Topical Cream

BenzaClin topical gel is a prescription acne medicine commonly used to treat mild to moderate acne. Unlike other skin care products that require some time before an improvement is noticed, BenzaClin works quickly to treat skin care problems such as acne vulgaris.

Patients wishing to try BenzaClin can do so without the worry of serious side effects that frequently accompany many oral prescriptions drugs. The most common side effects caused by BenzaClin are usually limited to the skin and may include dryness, redness, or itching in the affected area.

BenzaClin acne medicine is applied to acne outbreaks just twice a day. Its active ingredients include clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide.

Benzoyl peroxide is a well-known acne medicine that reduces both oily skin and inflammation. Clindamycin is a powerful antibiotic that kills the bacteria responsible for acne outbreaks.

Coupled together, these two ingredients are the basis for a potent acne skin care product that is generally well tolerated by most people.

Preventative Skin Care Tips - Recognizing Acne Triggers

In addition to finding an acne skin care treatment that works well for you, it is just as important to know what conditions or substances can trigger your acne outbreaks. Here are some tips to reduce your acne woes:

1. After an acne flare up, do not pick or scratch at the affected area. Doing so can postpone the healing process and lead to scarring. Instead, continue using your prescribed acne medicine or other skin care product until the condition subsides.

2. Don't over wash or scrub your blemishes. Many acne sufferers think their skin condition is due to poor hygiene. This is not the case. In fact, many acne patients clean or wash their faces too often, which can aggravate the skin.

3. Although no specific foods have been linked to acne, eating a well balanced diet should be part of your overall health and skin care regime. By eating a healthy diet and avoiding an excessive amount of processed foods, you can improve your health as well as limit acne occurrences.

4. Get enough rest. While a good night's sleep won't rid your face of pimples, a regular schedule that includes at least six hours of uninterrupted sleep will help your body function better and limit the number of future acne outbreaks.

5. Try not to stress out over acne. Stress is one of the leading causes of acne in adults. To increase the effectiveness of your acne skin care product, try incorporating various stress techniques into your daily routine. Exercise or participate in some other activity that helps take your mind off of your acne.