The Acne Wars: How to Find Your Way Through the Maze of Acne Products

What Acne Treatments are Available?
The market is literally flooded with acne treatments, ranging from prescription to over the counter to herbal to alternative treatments such as acupuncture. Many forms of acne respond well to over the counter treatments such as Neutrogena Rapid Clear and the good old standby, Clearasil. The products that seem to get the most positive results, ProActiv, Murad and Exposed, do not require a prescription and are currently very popular.

A dermatologist or doctor can prescribe certain creams and soaps for acne sufferers. For severe cases of acne, particularly those that include painful cysts, oral antibiotic treatments, such as tetracycline, have proven to be effective.

Herbal and vitamin/mineral remedies which include vitamin A, Zinc and Vitamin B6 are another popular method of treating acne. Herbs such as sarsaparilla, yellow dock, burdock and cleavers are believed to effectively treat acne by cleansing the blood and lymph nodes. Tea tree oil is often used topically on the acne to reduce the inflammation while killing the bacteria.

Which is Best, Prescription or Home Treatment?
The best acne treatment is the treatment that works best for you. If you have tried drugstore remedies and have not had any luck, then maybe it is time to check out some of the other acne treatments such as ProActiv, Murad and Exposed. These treatments have different formulations that the drugstore brands of acne treatments and they have been proven much more effective in treating acne.

A visit to a dermatologist can be costly and shots, prescription creams and soaps as well as oral medication can also be very expensive. Unless your acne is very severe or you think that your acne is actually something worse, such as basal cell carcinoma, the most common form of skin cancer, you should probably hold off on your doctor visit until you have tried some of the other products that are out there and you have had no success with them.

Which Acne Products are most Popular and Have the Best Track Record?
The three most popular acne treatments on the market today are ProActiv, Murad and Exposed. These three products are dramatically different from the acne treatments that you get at the drugstore. The acne treatments that you get at the drugstore are typically spot treatments. Additionally, many of these treatments use very harsh, drying chemicals as their active ingredient. This can actually cause acne to become more inflamed, red and swollen because it is very hard on your skin. It can cause other areas of the skin to become dry and scaly.

Products such as ProActiv, Murad and Exposed are different in that 1) they treat the entire face, not just the inflamed areas which means that they can help relieve current breakouts and prevent future ones from erupting. 2) They do not use harsh chemicals in their products. They use ingredients that are kind and gentle to your skin which reduces the inflammation and speeds healing.

What Should You Look for in an Acne Product?
The things you should look for in an acne product depend on the type of acne that you have, your skin type, your lifestyle and any allergies that you may have. For instance, include your makeup in your skincare routine because some ingredients in makeup can cause allergies and result in breakouts. Many of the new mineral makeups that are becoming so popular contain Bismuth Oxychloride as an ingredient and a surprising number of people are allergic to this mineral. This can result in inflammation and acne.

As for your skincare products, assess your skin type and find a product that is formulated for that type. If you have sensitive skin, you want to find a product that is appropriate for sensitive skin. The popular skincare systems such as ProActiv do address sensitive skin and have formulated their product to be appropriate for most skin types, including sensitive skin. Murad and Exposed have followed suit with equally accommodating formulations.

Which Acne Product is Right for You?
The best acne product for you is the one that works. When shopping for a skincare product, know your skin type, know your lifestyle (will you take the time to use cleanser, toner and lotion, as directed, every day or twice a day?) and see if the treatment works into your budget. Many of the products like Exposed are pretty affordable. You do get membership into their "club" but you can cancel that at any time.

Finding the product that will effective treat your acne can be challenging, but once you find it, you will be rewarded with clearer skin.