Everyone gets their fair share of acne problems. This is something that everyone goes through even beyond the age of puberty. People dread the occurrence of acne as it is unsightly and would often leave marks and scars when it heals. The common first aid for pimples is acne cream. There are a lot of acne treatments available with varying strength and effects. You would also find ways to treat pimple differently. Being familiar with your skin and what treatment is available would really help you take care of your skin better.
Know your Skin Type
One thing you need to know before looking for the right skin products is to determine your skin type. Knowing your skin type would find the right product or you that would prevent instances of breakouts. This would also tell you which products are best suited for your skin in case of skin treatment.
Normal skin would often have an even skin tone. It is also less prone to pimples. The pores are normal. This would also compliment most skin products and acne creams without causing irritations. This skin type would only require minimal maintenance. Oily skin would often appear to be shiny. The pores are enlarged and blackheads are common. This would often result to pimples. There are skin products specifically made for oily skin. Dry skin is would often feel dry, coarse and sometimes flaky. This is caused by low secretion of the body’s natural oils. Blemishes and blackheads can be found present with this skin type. You can treat this with moisturizers in order to get healthy skin. Combination skin is both oily and dry. This would not go well with just any skin products and can be tricky during treatment. There are skin products that are now created for combination skin.
In order to find the best acne cream for your skin, make sure to check on the label to check on the skin type that this is well suited for. You would normally find this indicated on the label.
Causes of Acne
There are many causes of acne. It would be unwise to simply use your usual acne products to treat pimples without knowing its cause. You might encounter acne that reappears often. Acne is merely a symptom, and treating these symptoms would not remedy the problem.
The appearance of acne can be hormonal. This is the reason why we have a lot of acne during puberty. It can also be caused by skin irritations. Some women can get clearer skin by taking pills. Acne on your forehead may be due to irritation to the hair products that you are using. Acne on your face can be due to the cosmetics and other skin products you use. Pimples that are found on your chin are a result of irritation to lipstick or even your toothpaste. When this happens changing to milder and hypo allergenic products can make a difference. It can also be a symptom of a medical condition.
If you are facing problems with stubborn and reoccurring acne, consult a dermatologist before treating this with acne cream. This would help you determine the real cause of breakouts and find the right treatment for it.
Ingredients to Look for in Acne Creams
Benzoyl Peroxide
World Health Organizations considers this an essential medicine in basic health care. This is an active ingredient in most acne products. This can come in forms of cream or gel and the common concentration of Benzoyl Peroxide is 5%. You can also get 2.5% for mild treatment and 10% for maximum effect. It kills the bacteria that causes skin pimples and oxidizes the skin leading to fast healing. You would only need a pea-sized amount of the product that you would evenly distribute to the affected area. Application is done only twice daily. This may cause redness and irritation. If this happens, it would be best to refrain from use of the product and consult a dermatologist.
Salycylic Acid
This is one of the best acne cream ingredients. It is also commonly used in a lot of skin-care products. This organic acid kills bacteria and promotes cellular repair. It is great for unclogging pores and disinfecting them which great in treating acne. Leave-on treatment should only have 2% concentration. This would apply to creams, gels and astringents. For cleansers and facial washes, 3% concentration is acceptable since you wash them off after treatment. You would often find this listed as a common ingredient in acne cream reviews. In case of irritations, refrain from use and consult you dermatologist.
Retinol Cream
This is very effective. You would find creams and gels that would promise overnight remedy for pimples. Yes, this is possible with the help of Retinol. Only 1% is required for treatment and you often leave this on overnight. This would remove impurities on your skin. This also promotes cellular repair by removing dead skin cells and hastens cellular renewal to produce new skin cells. Higher concentration can lead to skin irritations. Consult your dermatologist if this occurs.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil would treat acne by targeting the bacteria and microbes that cause pimples. It is also anti-inflammatory. It normally has 5% concentration and treatment would require you to only apply this on the target area and preventing contact from other parts of the skin. In case of redness, It would be best to consult your doctor.
Isotretinion
This is used for treatment of severe acne. Isotretinion is a very strong and may cause serious side effects if misused. This is only to be used if the best acne creams fail to provide you the results you want. It would be best to ask your dermatologist’s assistance if you would prefer to get this treatment.
In treating acne, you must determine the severity of its conditions. Also, determine your skin type for you to find the best acne treatment. You can refer to acne cream reviews for reference. Finding the most suitable skin products would rear significant results. Benzoyl Peroxide and Salycylic Acid are effective. It would be best to look for products that have these ingredients, but make sure you check the concentration of these ingredients based from the guidelines stated above. If you are using salicylic acid for your facial wash, get an acne cream with the same ingredients. It would be a risk to use different ingredients as this can product unwanted chemical effects and can lead to irritation. The best way to treat your acne is to be guided by a professional, so make sure you ask your dermatologist for advice. They can recommend the best acne cream for you to use and give you tips on how to keep pimples at bay. Knowing how to take care of your skin would really help keep prevent the occurrence of acne.