It’s a mind boggling experience to know just how much acne treatments there are out there in the marketplace. There are literally millions and the most amazing thing is they are all different making it difficult to discern what really helps with acne. The alternatives are all interesting and effective ranging from spot treatments, whiteheads and blackheads to pimples but there’s more to know.

Acne a fit for all solutions

The exact meaning here is that there’s no single cure for acne but rather a plethora of treatments available for treating this bothersome and unwanted condition. This is so because not all patients respond in the same way to the same treatment and skin experts agree.

As a preliminary part of an acne treatment, your skin expert will firstly examine your skin and ascertain the seriousness of your infection according it a grading from a mild Grade 1 to a chronic Grade 4.

He would then categorize your treatment into Topical or Oral acne treatments:

• Topical acne treatment – the most common treatment for acne that works by eliminating bacteria that cause acne and by decreasing the presence of oil. Some of the ingredients include salicylic acid, retinoids, antibiotics and benzoyl peroxide
• Oral acne treatment – these do the work inside the body and are usually given under prescription when red, swollen pimples are diagnosed (cysts and nodules). It utilizes antibiotics against bacteria and inflammation, birth control pills against hormonal acne and isotretinoin.

The Best Acne Treatments

As with the absence of the one cause for acne, so it is with the one cure. There is no single efficacious treatment for acne as already noted in the two categories of treatment types. There’s only a whole range of treatments and 17 of them are listed below:

Salicylic acid

This treatment is for treating preteen acne is the active ingredient of most products touting “acne wash’ or “spot treatment” labels. It contains hydroxyl acid for dissolving excess oil and dead skin cells, anti-inflammatory and great for cystic breakouts. It can be used as a face wash but better as a toner or moisturizer used sparingly to avoid drying the skin if over used. It’s available at drugstores.

Glycolic acid

Found in beauty stores and drugstores, it is an alpha hydroxyl acid gently removes outer skin expelling dead skin cells that clog pores. It can wash, peel and moisturize and also serums.

Benzoyl peroxide

This nemesis of the C. acnes bacteria that cause breakouts, is a totally anti-bacteria product, but the creams and cleansing ingredients can dry out skin and also bleach clothing.  It should make up just 2% of total treatment content as stronger quantity tends to adversely affect skin while potency against bacteria remains the same.

Lactic acid

This acid is gentler than clycolic acid as a cleansing agent and perfect for people with extra sensitive skin. However the acid is humectant or draws water to itself meaning that it can have a hydrating effect. It’s the perfect treatment for people with dry or sensitive skin when used with exfoliants.

Retinol

Also known as retinoids that stimulate skin cells to self-produce at a faster rate, decrease oil production and cleanses skin, all the desirable conditions for discouraging acne breakouts. They not only treat acne but also prevent it from forming.

They can also be irritating to the skin and if you have sensitive skin conditions like eczema or rosacea, a selection from over the counter may prove too strong. A low start of .01% to test skin reaction is a good level at which to begin your treatment.

Retinal

This drug is the preferred standby treatment for retinol that’s also available at over the counter drugstores.  The compound occurs naturally as a retinoid which is converted by the body to retinoic acid. It has been proven to be as effective as retinol with fewer side effects.

Adapalene

Once only available under prescription, this branded Differin drug only recently became available as an over-the-counter treatment and has become an iconic acne medication available without the prescription. Being authentic it was formulated to be gentler than other acne medications.

Sulfur

Although this treatment smells like rotten eggs, it has the desired ability of drying up pimples filled with pus along with whiteheads. It literally sucks up oil dry. It can be mixed with other active ingredients for desired efficacy and more added fragrances to smother the scent of rotten egg.

Bakuchiol

This treatment ingredient is a plant-based extract often mistaken for an alternative for retinol except that it’s not a retinoid. Studies show it as an ideal treatment for skin texture and for producing fine lines without the feared side effects associated with retinoids. It can be used alone or in combination with low amounts of retinol to enhance anti-acne and anti-aging potency without alarming users by its side effects.

Dapsone gel

This is another prescribed treatment for acne which your doctor may recommend which touts the brand name of Aczone Dapsone, an antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory treatment. It also provides relief against whiteheads and blackheads as well as deeper embedded and more painful pimples. It also dries out skin and is used in combination with other acne treatments.

A cortisone shot

This is the perfect and rapid fix emergency treatment for large acne cysts and bumps. It’s given as a needle shot with immediate results that witnesses the rapid lessening or total disappearance of the acne within 24 to 48 hours.

Birth control pills

This is the perfect treatment for hormonal acne which makes its presence in the form of androgens or cystic acne. These androgens produce sebum in abundance which translates into more acne. Birth control pills contain the hormones estrogen and progestin that helps keep hormones balanced resulting in clear skin.

Spironalactone

Sometimes, hormonal acne can’t be handled effectively with birth control pills only. An androgen stopper is needed and that’s where spironolactone comes in. Its virility focuses on impeding the progress of androgen hormones by a blocking technique that effectively prevents receptors from uniting with testosterone.  When spironalactone is taken with oral contraceptives, breakouts in women improve dramatically.

Tazarotene

The branded name is Tazorac is another powerful retinoid given under prescription although its synthetic. As with other retinoids its side effects include dryness and irritation so following your derma’s directions us advisable.

Isotretinoin

This is an especially strong retinold  that treats patients with severe acne condition. It’s especially suited for treating women with cystic acne with a 50% success rate. The downside is making the skin very dry and sensitive and needs the presence of moisturizers and lip balm close by.

Azelaic acid

Azelaic acid is very effective in treating inflammation and is often used as an alternative treatment for people with sensitive skin or pregnant women. It’s a good treatment or acne and bumps.

Antibiotics

Oral antibiotics can help treat acne and while immediate results become visible, your acne can just as quickly return when you cease your medication. They also induce side effects such as nausea and stomach upset.

Conclusion

You now have some idea of what really helps with acne and while some of it may prove a little difficult to understand you can never lose out on the details. You will always have your qualified physician or online pharmacist who can explain the nitty-gritty of each and every one of the acne treatments. At least you know their names, how they work and where you can find them.