Are all acne treatments effective? Acne results from pores that are clogged with debris (usually dead skin cells) and oil, and consequently, bacteria that are growing behind this blockage. This results in an inflammation beneath the skin, which presents itself as an unsightly reddish papule. This creates three main focus areas to deal with when considering acne treatment.

To treat existing acne, it is necessary to reduce the amount of bacteria cells, alleviating the infection, while, to treat acne preemptively, it is necessary to block oil and dead skin from accumulating on the face.

When combating existing acne, the main goal is to form an environment that is nonconductive to the growth or survival of the existing infection cells. This can be done with minor surgery involving lights of a certain wavelength. These lights ionize the compounds that are existing inside the infection cells and create free radicals that effectively destroy the infection from the inside out. This treatment, although experimental, is considered to be extremely safe, because we are already exposed to low quantities of these wavelengths of light from the sun on a daily basis. Another method of acne treatment that kills existing infections is the use of topical bactericides such as benzoyl peroxide. These also kill the infection cells and prevent the infection from spreading. Along this same line of thought is the use of topical and oral antibiotics that kill the infection. Regardless of which form of acne treatment that you pursue, it is imperative that you first discuss your options with a doctor, preferably a dermatologist. Active acne treatment, the actual killing off of existing acne, is simply a matter of making it impossible for the existing cells to live.

Much of acne treatment, though, is done before an actual breakout occurs. This means washing your face daily with a specially marked acne soap, which will clear out oil from the pores. This oil is what allows the debris to “stick” in a pore, and is, therefore, one of the main causes for clogged pores that lead to acne. These soaps also have an added ingredient, such as salicylic acid, that will work as a mild chemical peel. This additive encourages the outermost layer of skin to be simply sloughed off and into the sink rather than into the pores. The same “sloughing off” is also achievable through the use of a scrub. These acne scrubs have some sort of abrasive material inside of them that makes it easy to peel away the outermost layer of skin that is the most likely to fall into the pores.

In addition to the scrubs, there are other ways to prevent excess dead skin from falling into, and clogging, a pore. This is done by exfoliating the skin and physically forcing the skin off. This can be done with a scrub, but if you can”t find a sponge to fit your needs, it would be to your advantage to exfoliate nonetheless. This, when combined with another form of acne treatment, will greatly reduce the risk of any future breakouts.

It is important to remember that no one acne treatment will suit all people. This means that you have your own special condition, and that the most effective way to handle your acne is to discuss it with a professional, such as a doctor or a dermatologist, who will prescribe a treatment that is specific to your skin.