How to Choose the Best Acne Solutions for You

Nov 20
09:41

2009

Erica Jennings

Erica Jennings

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Finding the right acne solution for you depends on several factors including the severity of your acne problem and whether you are a man or a woman. While benzoyl peroxide works well for mild acne, women might try hormonal acne treatments while men can consider Accutane. Both men and women can benefit from holistic acne solutions.

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Choosing the best acne solutions for you is a matter of deciding if you have mild,How to Choose the Best Acne Solutions for You Articles moderate or severe acne. In the past, doctors tended to prescribe antibiotics for every pimple-related problem, but these days antibiotics have fallen out of favor. Not only do they help to promote antibiotic resistant bacteria, but they never worked well in the first place. Not a ringing endorsement if you are looking for the best acne solution!

Hands down the best solution if you have mild acne is a 2.5% benzoyl peroxide cream or gel. It's popular because it works two ways. First, it destroys bacteria on your skin that can infect your blackheads and whiteheads and turn them into big red pimples. Second, benzoyl peroxide helps to clear blocked pores so it is not bad at controlling blackheads as well. Here are a few extra tips:

1) Never buy anything stronger than 2.5% benzoyl peroxide. Clinical studies have proven that stronger formulations (including prescription strength) are not more effective, except at irritating your skin and draining your wallet.

2) Apply twice per day in a thin layer after gently washing your face and wiping your skin with a salicylic acid pad. These pads are cheap and non-prescription. They allow the benzoyl peroxide to penetrate more deeply into clogged pores, increasing the effectiveness.

3) Don't bother with washes, scrubs and cleansers containing benzoyl peroxide. These medicated skin products rinse from your skin so quickly that the active ingredients simply do not have time to work. Save your money.

If you have moderate to severe acne, it is a bit more complicated to choose the best acne solution for you. If you are a woman, you may wish to try going on a birth control pill containing estrogen. Yasmin is the brand most recommended by dermatologists for treating pimples. Other hormone therapies to consider include spironolactone. Talk to your doctor to find out if hormonal treatments are the best for you. Guess what? If you are a man, the answer is no.

If you are a man, or a woman who doesn't wish to pursue hormonal treatments, the best acne solutions for you are Accutane, or trying to cure your pimples with a holistic treatment.

Accutane is a very effective treatment, but the severe side effects associated with its use make it an acne solution of last resort. Depression and birth defects are well known possible side effects of Accutane but there are a host of other potential side effects including pain, liver damage, bleeding gums, and thinning hair. You should keep in mind that Accutane does not work overnight. It can take six months to a year for your skin to clear up and you may wish to hide during that time because your skin will get much worse, not better. Accutane increases the severity of your acne lesions and leaves your skin painfully dry and your lips peeling. These less "medically serious" side effects often come as a surprise to those sufferers who expect quick results.

Holistic treatments might be considered the best acne solutions for many reasons. We have come a long way in the last few years in recognizing the connection between lifestyle, diet and your complexion. There are several great programs on the market that, if closely followed, can help to clear up acne without the use of drugs. An improved diet has one side effect that few people consider: improved overall health. A holistic program is something to consider especially prior to committing to a harsh medical treatment like Accutane. They are much cheaper, and you don't have to get medical tests to make sure you're not harming yourself.