Most adult acne sufferers had probably thought that this affliction would pass with the end of their teenage years. They thought that once the raging hormones of adolescence slow down, their acne would clear up as well. For some people that did not happen and controlling acne has become something to be concerned with during adult life as well. Luckily, there are many weapons in the battle to treat acne.



The acne sufferer must both keep the pores of the skin unclogged and work on unclogging already infected pores. One must keep at bay the bacteria that cause the infection and redness of acne and reduce any redness that is already present. The best line of attack is to apply preventive measures to avoid an acne breakout altogether.

Gently washing your face with soap and warm water a couple of times a day will help prevent your skin pores from becoming clogged. Using benzoyl peroxide, which is the active ingredient in Oxy Pads and in many other cleaning wipes, will also help to clean your skin as well as to dry it out. One of the great advantages of benzoyl peroxide is that it can be used together with other products to treat acne.

Using exfoliation has become a common technique in acne control. The removal of dead skin cells through exfoliation can help prevent them from clogging the pores of the skin, which in turn aids in preventing acne. The skin revealed by exfoliating is new, smooth, and much more healthy looking. It is important to know, however, that many of the agents found in exfoliating products can be very irritating to your skin. Before using them on your entire face, a small area of your skin should be tested to check for any negative reactions to these agents.

Many of the products available to treat acne have a dual function: the exfoliating agents which remove dead cells from the skin can also kill the bacteria associated with acne and reduce the inflammation of the skin. Therefore these products not only help to prevent acne, but also reduce the swelling and redness associated with an acne breakout.

Other common ingredients found in products to treat acne are sulfur and azelaic acid. One ingredient to be cautious of using on the face is salicylic acid. While this ingredient can help to prevent the pores from clogging, it is very irritating to the tender skin on the face.

A consultation with a dermatologist may be required for the most severe cases of acne. He or she can assist you with putting together a cleansing program for you to follow. A dermatologist may also use lasers in the treatment of acne as well as prescribe acne medication. If your dermatologist does prescribe medication to aid in fighting your acne, be aware that most acne medicines are quite powerful and can even be toxic. You need to warned of any possible side effects and be alert to them if they do occur.

If the idea of prescribed treatments from a dermatologist concern you, give the over-the-counter products a try. They are readily available, less expensive, and just might work for you. Since these products are applied externally, you will also avoid ingesting any acne medications and suffer the possible side effects that they can cause.