Topical Acne Treatments

I’ve opened with topical treatments, because like it or not, this is where most acne sufferers begin their quest for blemish-free skin. There is a huge range of skin preparations out there designed to combat the effects of acne and to care for acne-prone skin – fact it’s a virtual industry, with creams, lotions, gels and cleansers advertised as promising the earth, but few failing to deliver.

Before we go any further, I want to say that regardless of your skin type, location of your acne or sex, it is vital that you have a daily skin care routine and stick to it. While preparations and advice mentioned here will keep only mild to moderate forms of acne under control, you should not neglect your skin just because you suffer from a more severe form of acne. A properly cared-for skin (even an inflamed one) will heal quicker and look better than one which is isn’t. For you guys out there – it isn’t cissy – it’s just common sense!

It’s important to understand that while some topical preparations may work very well for one group of people, they may prove virtually useless for others – it all depends on a number of factors, which include your skin type, the origin and severity of your acne.

There are 2 main categories of topical products available for treating acne. These include:

A. Acne cleansers and medicated creams containing :

· Salicylic acid

· Glycolic acid

· Antibacterial components

Best suited for those suffering from adult acne.

B. Acne cleansers and medicated creams containing benzoyl peroxide. Regarded as very effective, when used correctly, for controlling teen acne, but likely to cause irritation on older, less oily skins.

You may be able to purchase benzoyl peroxide at 10%, but in this case, the adage “more is better” does not apply – 10% is likely to cause skin irritation, so stick to 2.5% in the first instance. Once your skin is acclimatized to the weaker strength, you can move up to 5%, then 10% if necessary. A small percentage of people find that they are allergic to benzoyl peroxide, and will experience swelling or crusting of skin, so do a skin test before launching in.

Basic Skin Care Routine

It may help to begin by looking carefully at your skin type and choosing your products based on that. Very mild forms of acne may be kept in check with a good skin care regimen.

Daniel W. Kern of Acne.org has produced a set of video illustrating just how you should wash, medicate and moisturize. Although it may seem pretty obvious, his argument is that the key to success with topicals is to avoid skin irritation through very gentle handling of the face. His videos set out to demonstrate just how this is done.

You can view the videos through the links below;

Daniel W. Kern’s Clear Skin Regimen Videos

1. Wash/Cleanse

You should begin your skin care routine by very gentle cleansing. This should be done using a non-alcohol cleanser. Whatever the advertising hype claims, don’t be tempted to use really strong alcohol-based products – they may dry up excess oil, but they will also dry up the oils your skin needs for self-moisturising, leaving it prone to dryness, lesions which flake and with an increased tendency to scar. Don’t try to cut corners by using bath or facial soaps – they will also try out your skin.

If you are following the 3-step routine described here, you can afford to use an ordinary, non-medicated cleanser (best if you have sensitive skin) such as;

Neutrogena Extra Gentle Cleanser
ZENMED® Facial Cleansing Gel / ZENMED® Botanical Acne Body Wash
Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser for Normal to Oily Skin
Purpose Gentle Cleansing Wash

You can also use a medicated cleanser especially designed for acne-prone skin, but you’ll need to select according to your skin type.

If you are a teen and/or have very oily skin, your medicated cleanser should have a benzoyl peroxide-base*, such as

Jan Marini Benzoyl Peroxide 2.5% Wash
or PCA SKIN pHaze 31 BPO 5% Cleanser .


Popular Products

PCA SKIN pHaze 35 Acne Gel	M.D. Forte Facial Cleanser I	Philosophy Hope In A Bottle For Congested Skin

If you are older and with a less oily skin, you should avoid benzoyl peroxide preparations as they will probably be too drying. You should opt instead for a salicylic acid or glycolic acid cleanser such as;

M.D. Forte Facial Cleanser I, II or III (different strengths)
ClearPores Facial Cleanser / ClearPores Body Cleanser
Donell Super Skin Beta Hydroxy Acne Cleanser (don’t use if you have sensitive skin)

2. Medicate

Stage 2 of your skin care regimen should see you gently applying medicated cream or gel to your problem areas, which should be left to work all day long. Again, if you have teenage acne, use a benzoyl peroxide base. For adult acne, use a salicyclic acid or glycolic acid base such as those suggested here;

Benzoyl Oxide Preparations

Neutrogena On-the-Spot 2.5% (you’ll need 4-6 tubes per month)

N.V. Perricone Acne Treatment Gel Cream

B. Kamins Medicated Acne Gel 5%

Jan Marini Benzoyl Peroxide 5%

ZENMED® Facial Cleansing Gel	Neutrogena On-the-Spot 2.5%	M.D. Forte Facial Cream I

Salicyclic Acid Preparations

Sundari T-Zone Oil Control Treatment
ZENMED Derma Cleanse Acne Gel
Donell Super Skin Alpha Beta Acne Gel (good for blackheads, but best avoided on sensitive skins)
PCA SKIN pHaze 35 Acne Gel
Philosophy Hope In A Bottle For Congested Skin

Glycolic Acid Preparations

Jan Marini Bioglycolic Acne Gel I, II (different strengths)
Pevonia Spot Treatment
M.D. Forte Glycare Perfection Gel
M.D. Forte Facial Cream I, II or III (different strengths)

3. Moisturize

The final part of your skin care routine should be daily, or twice daily moisturizing with a non-oily moisturizer. If you’re using a medicated spot treatment, be careful not to “overdose” your skin by using a moisturizer which contains the same active ingredient.

Popular moisturizers include:

Murad Moisturizing Acne Treatment Gel (use instead of medicating)
ClearPores™ Facial Protection Cream (use instead of medicating)
MD Formulations Moisture Defense Antioxidant Hydrating Gel
DermaNew Active Hydrator
Juice Beauty Oil Free Moisturizer
AHAVA Matifying Moisturizer For Oily Skin

The Bottom Line

Remember that whatever they claim, topical acne products will not cure acne – at best they will help to create conditions in which it is harder for spots and lesions to form, and if you’re lucky, may also help speed up the healing time of breakouts. To give yourself the best possible chance, aggravating factors such as excess sugary foods, smoking, caffeine and picking of spots are best avoided.

You should give your skin care regimen 6-8 weeks to work before considering other options for treatment.

Chances are if you’re reading this report, you’ve discovered that no amount of cleansing or moisturising is having much impact on your acne. It means you have a more severe form, in which the infection is more serious, greater, and runs deeper. While you should still stick to your regimen, you’re going to have to take more radical action as well, so read on….

Comparison of Cosmetic Topicals

Download full report to see comparison of cosmetic topical treatments.

Before we leave the topical treatments behind, I want briefly to mention systems which combine cosmetic preparations with products which are designed to actually prevent the acne breaking out the first place.

Holistic Anti-Acne Products

ZENMED® Derma Cleanse System	ClearPores Facial and Body Systems

Anti-acne cosmetic systems which are designed to treat acne from the inside and out are becoming increasingly popular. These systems include topical gels and lotions which are used to treat active acne and natural base capsules (bioherbaceuticals) to stabilize the body metabolism so that it not subject to acne flare-ups.

More and more clinical data is emerging to suggest that these bioherbaceutical options are proving effective in the long-term management of mild to moderate acne, providing a stablization of problem acne conditions after an average 6 month course of treatment. For more detailed information on bioherbaceutical acne therapy, go here .