There are, however, several acne control methods that will reduce the appearance of this unsightly skin disease. Acne, more specifically Acne Vulgaris, is an inflammatory disease of the skin, often occurring during the pubescent years. Most of these treatments control the acne by reducing the occurrence of clogged pores (when debris and oil clog a hair follicle in the skin) and by killing the bacteria living within these clogged pores. These acne control treatments that include exfoliation, topical bactericides, Accutane, and light therapy, will be discussed later.
Perhaps the most common method of acne control is regular exfoliation of the skin. This simply means the removal of dead skin cells from the top layer of the skin, which prevents them from falling into pores where they may stick and become blackheads. Exfoliation as
means of acne control can be done either physically or chemically. Physical exfoliation requires the use of an abrasive material, such as acne “scrubs,” which is available at many drug stores, or some sort of abrasive cloth. These work on a microscopic level to remove skin cells but often do lead to visible flaking of the skin. Also, along this same idea is the use of chemical exfoliating agents, such as salicylic and glycolic acid, which encourage the peeling of the skin. This can, however, lead to dry and flaking skin when the acne-control product used is too harsh. Exfoliating products are readily available over the counter and are usually relatively inexpensive, especially when generic brands are used.