Acne treatment is a big business. People in the United States alone spend well nearly $1.5 billion every year on the pursuit of clear skin. Unfortunately many acne treatments don't do the job and some treatments bring about serious side effects.

Acne can be treated by either taking prescribed medicines or by trying out non-prescription acne treatment products, like acne cleansers, astringents, moisturizers and pimple creams available at their local drug store.

No matter which acne treatment you decide to use, the fact is that prescription and non-prescription products remain pretty much the same. Each one either helps you unplug your whiteheads and blackheads, help your affected skin shed so you end up with a fresh new look or else they kill the bacteria that infect the pores.

Most acne treatments usually take from between six to eight weeks to take affect. However, it can take several months for a treatment to work in severe cases.

If you choose to go to a dermatologist, he will more than lokely suggest you to take antibiotics, pills, vitamins or all of these, depending on what he considers to be the most apt treatment for you.

Although topical antibiotics like Cleocin T and Azelex help to kill bacteria, they may also cause dry red skin and an increase in sun sensitivity. Oral antibiotics can cause even more serious side effects, like nausea and dizziness.

Another popular method for treating acne is consuming Vitamin A. The derivatives like Retin-A, Differin and Tarzorac prevent skin cells from clumping together and shedding, but they may also cause dryness, redness and irritation.

It is because of these side effects that many dermatologists suggest the use of a latest acne treatment method, which treats acne by employing light at the wavelengths of 405 to 420 nm. The complete treatment needs 8 sittings of 15 minutes each, distributed over a time span of 4 weeks. It is found to give quick and impressive results when used to treat mild to moderate inflammation acne.