How to Pick the Right Acne Solution for You
January 3rd, 2010
Whether you have moderate, severe or just mild acne will determine the perfect acne regimen for you. In the past, doctors tended to prescribe antibiotics for most pimple-related problems, but these days antibiotics are used less. Not only do they help to produce antibiotic resistant bacteria, but they didn’t work well in the first place. Not a ringing endorsement if you are trying to choose the best acne solution! Hands down the best acne solution if you have mild acne is a 2.5% benzoyl peroxide cream or gel. It’s popular because it works two ways. By eliminating the P.acnes bacteria that lives on your skin, it stops it from infecting blackheads and whiteheads and turning them into pimples. Second, benzoyl peroxide can control blackheads by unplugging blocked pores. Here are a few extra tips:
1) Don’t buy anything stronger than 2.5% benzoyl peroxide gel or cream. Clinical studies prove that stronger concentrations (including prescription strength) are not more effective, except at irritating your skin and emptying your wallet.
2) Apply two times per day in a thin layer after gently cleaning your face and wiping your skin with a salicylic acid pad. Salicylic acid pads are inexpensive and non-prescription. They allow the benzoyl peroxide to penetrate deeply into plugged pores, increasing the effectiveness.
3) Buying washes, scrubs and cleansers containing benzoyl peroxide is a waste of money. The benzoyl peroxide doesn’t have time to work because you rinse it off of your skin so fast. They won’t do you any good.
If you have moderate to severe acne, it is a bit more complicated to pick the best acne solution for you. If you are a woman, you can try going on a birth control pill containing estrogen. Doctors recommend the Yasmin brand most often for treating acne. You may want to think about other hormone treatment options, including spironolactone. If you think that hormonal acne treatments are appropriate for you, talk to your doctor. The answer is no if you are a man.
Accutane and the holistic acne treatments are the best acne solutions for men, and women who cannot use hormonal acne therapy. Accutane is a very effective acne treatment, but the severe side effects associated with using it make it an acne treatment of last resort. Depression and birth defects are well known possible side effects of Accutane but there are a host of other common side effects including pain, liver damage, bleeding gums, and thinning hair. The fact that Accutane does not cure acne quickly is another thing to keep in mind. Accutane does not clear acne as quickly as you might think. Your skin will get much worse for 6 months to a year, and you might want to stay inside. Peeling lips, severely dry skin and inflamed pimples are normal for Accutane patients during treatment. Don’t be disappointed when your acne gets worse instead of better.
Holistic treatments might be considered the perfect acne treatments for many reasons. We have come a long way in the last few years in acknowledging the connection between lifestyle, diet and your complexion. By closely following one of the holistic acne treatment programs, you might be able to improve and possibly cure your acne. A better diet has one side effect that not many people consider: improved overall health. Considering a holistic acne program is something you should think about, especially prior to beginning a harsh treatment like Accutane. Besides doing less potential harm to your body, they are a much less expensive way to clear acne.
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