Acne Skin Care Products: What's in Them and How Do They Work?
Acne skin care products have inundated the market in the last decade or so. What with our obsession with having a clear skin and the growing number of studies about acne, it is not surprising that skin care products of different kinds have rained down on us. But what is the best among these materials? There really is no way of telling until you've tried them.
Acne skin care products range from creams to facial washes to oral medications. Each of these products has a base ingredient that can either eradicate or make your pimples worse, depending on how your skin and your body react to them. Following are some options.
1. AHA solutions. Alpha hydroxy acids are compounds that contain carboxylic acid which is a popular ingredient in cosmetics. They can either be made from milk, citrus fruits or sugar cane. These solutions are said to be formulated to get rid of excess skin oil and to clean blocked pores.
2. Benzoyl peroxide solutions. Touted as one of the most effective treatment for acne, this solution usually comes in the form of facial creams or gels. Acne remedies that contain 2.5 to 5 percent concentration of benzoyl peroxide are mostly recommended for treating pimples. These products, though, should be used moderately and with the approval of skin specialists since peroxide is known to dry skin and even cause irritation and skin burning if used excessively.
3. Salicylic acid. This solution is recommended for mild zits. It works by eliminating dead skin cells that clog the pores and cause pimples to breakout. Such products are dabbed to the affected areas after washing the face and before going to bed.
4. Retinoids. These products are derived primarily from vitamin A. Retinoids are known for balancing epithelial cell growth. They come in both topical and oral forms; with the latter prescribed for the more severe forms of acne and are formulated to reduce the skin's secretion of oil.
5. Hormonal solutions. Mostly prescribed to women, hormone-based acne treatments are said to be effective in reducing androgenic hormone levels which are usually blamed for pimple breakouts among women. They can be in the form of oral medications, direct injections or contained in some oral contraceptives.
Acne skin care products contain various ingredients and are formulated differently from one another. They can be designed to control excessive oil production, balance the hormone level in the body or kill skin bacteria. Each has its own pros and cons and choosing the right one for your skin type is the first step towards finding that effective pimple solution.
