The Best Acne Treatment

To choose the best acne treatment is a tricky task because not all acne is the same.  There are a number of different types of acne, and there is no common treatment that is equally effective for each.  Nor are there treatments that work with each form of acne in the same way, since the treatment depends a great deal on the severity of the condition.

One of the more effective acne treatments is benzoyl peroxide, which is the active ingredient behind many different topical treatments such as Clearasil Max and ProActive. However, you have to be careful with benzoyl peroxide on your face because it could cause irritation of your skin.  It is better used on thicker skin, and is therefore widely used for treating back acne. It not only possesses antibacterial properties but also promotes the flaking of dead surface skin cells.

One of the problems with acne is that a treatment that one person finds effective might not be so for another. Each person has to find an acne treatment that is most effective for their own condition. Some of the milder forms of acne can be treated simply with a mild facial cleanser.  If you follow this up with a commercial antibacterial acne treatment, then you will have as good a chance as any of controlling your condition or even of curing it. 

If your acne is deeper and more persistent, a treatment needs to be designed to effectively reduce the production of sebum.  This is the oil that is believed to be responsible for most acne conditions.  This treatment approach would be an effective way of preventing the acne from getting worse and possibly even stopping it altogether.  One prescription for achieving this is called isotretinoin (e.g. Accutane), a Vitamin A based treatment. It will only be prescribed by a doctor if the acne is severe and persistent, and is not suitable for anybody with liver problems.

With regard to topical acne creams, Vitamin A (retinol) can be effective, although a proportion of the population contract dry and flaking skin when they use it. In fact that is how it works:  by promoting flaking off of the top skin cell. It is basically a topical form of the oral isotretinoin, but not as strong. It is not the perfect treatment, and like most acne treatments, it will suit some more than others.

Antibiotic treatments can be effective, particularly when used in conjunction with skin-shedding applications such as benzoyl peroxide or retinol. However, most topical treatments will show few benefits for at least six months.  So you are looking at long-term treatments rather than the quick fix. In fact there really are no quick fixes for acne, although laser treatment can produce rapid results in serious cases.

Oral contraceptives have been found to work for women with acne.  A combination of the testosterone suppressant, cyproterone acetate and the hormone ethinylestradiol (eg. Dianette) have been found to be an effective treatment. It works by suppressing the male hormones (that all women have) and with it, the production of sebum.

There is really no such thing as the best acne treatment because each works differently with different people.  This simply indicates the difficulty in understanding the true causes and nature of the condition.  The way for you to find the best acne treatment is start off with the milder treatments and work up.  Thus, antibacterial soaps and body scrubs should be followed with topical over the counter acne creams.  If these don't work, then your physician might suggest a prescription treatment, and eventually, with a bit of persistence on your part, you will come across an acne treatment that suits you. The best acne treatment for an individual is the one that works.