Adult Acne Cures - Removal Treatments and How to Use Them

If you're looking for adult acne cures and walk into any pharmacy and you'll see probably an entire aisle devoted to acne removal treatments. You can also browse online and fine a wealth of options when it comes to acne removal treatments, from homeopathic medicines to topical treatments. How can you tell which of these may help your acne, which do virtually nothing for you, and which may actually make your acne worse?

It's important to understand the common ingredients in acne medications and acne removal treatment options so that you can make the best decision about what to choose for your own treatment, and also so that you don't go overboard with treatments and cause more damage to your skin.

Some acne products work by killing the bacteria that cause acne flare-ups or breakouts; other acne removal treatment products remove excess oils from the skin or remove dead skin cells by exfoliating them away.  And some acne products perform a combination of these things.

Benzoyl Peroxide

Benzoyl peroxide is very strong; it's strong enough to get rid of some types and cases of acne, so of course it's strong enough to affect skin in other areas of the face.  Most acne sufferers should avoid using these cleansers unless they do so very carefully, being sure to wash only the areas with acne and avoiding the areas of the cheeks, around the eyes, and so on.

Benzoyl peroxide works by kills the bacteria that cause acne and that are clogging the pores or hair follicles.  It also helps to remove excess oil from the skin as well.

You can typically buy different strengths of benzoyl peroxide, from 2.5% to 10%.  It's not unusual for benzoyl peroxide to cause scaling, redness of the face, and even minor swelling in the areas where you use it.  And because it dries the face and removes those protective oils it can also make the skin more sensitive to sunlight and increase cases of sunburn.

Salicylic Acid

It doesn't take a genius to figure out that anything with the word "acid" in its name is going to be rather harsh on your skin if not used properly.  Many acne fighting cleansers and products contain salicylic acid; this ingredient slows the shedding of cells inside the hair follicles, which means these won't get clogged as easily.  Remember, it's not just the dirt and oil that causes acne, but the fact that these follicles or pores get clogged unnaturally that make a person break out in acne.

As with benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid is available in several different strengths and percentages, usually from 0.5% to 2%.  If you're using a product with salicylic acid in the ingredients, it's probably best to start with a smaller concentration at first, as it can cause skin to have mild stinging or irritation.  It also causes the skin to be more sensitive to sunlight, so avoid sunbathing or outdoor activities without a proper sunscreen.

Glycolic Acid

Glycolic acid works by removing the outermost layer of dead skin cells from the skin and is an excellent exfoliating property.  This ingredient reaches the deep areas of the pores or hair follicles and therefore gives it a better chance of actually working to prevent and treat acne at the core source of the acne. 

Glycolic acid is often used to deliver salicylic acid to the deepest parts of the pores and hair follicles, so you may see a product with both ingredients listed.  Overuse of glycolic acid can cause premature aging of the skin, as well as extreme dryness, redness, scaling, and irritation.

Sulfur and Resorcinol

Rarely used alone, sulfur and resorcinol are often found together in acne products.   They work by removing dead skin cells that are clogging pores and the excessive oil that goes along with it.  They are very strong products that can break down both whiteheads and blackheads, and often cause redness, peeling, stinging, and discomfort several days after their use.  They should be used cautiously and sparingly.

Alcohol, Acetone

Alcohol is very drying to your skin and should also be avoided.  If you check the labels of many skincare products and cleansers you may see that they contain a percentage of alcohol in one form or another.  Many manufacturers add alcohol because it does dry up excess oil on the face, but typically these products are so harsh that they will do more harm than good.

Acetone is much the same way.  It dries up the excessive oil but also strips the skin of essential and healthy oils as well.  It is a very strong ingredient that is not in many products as it is so powerful.  If you see acetone as an ingredient on any acne treatment option it should be used sparingly and cautiously, if at all.

Applying All This Information

Realizing the effects of these additives and common acne treatment options is helpful in understanding the best way to use them and how the overuse of any of these products can be harmful and damaging to your skin as well.

How to use these products. 

Pick up a tube of virtually any acne treatment product and you'll see one if not all of these ingredients listed on the label.  Realizing how strong they are should convince you to use them properly.

Make sure that when you apply any product for acne that you apply it sparingly and only on the spots where you have breakouts or are prone to breakouts.  Do not just smear it on your entire face.

Your cheeks, corners and underneath your eyes, and upper lip are very sensitive areas on your face and are usually much drier than other areas.  Unless you specifically have acne on any of these areas, they should not be treated with any of these harsh products.

It's also typically best to apply them only once during the day, usually at night.  Your skin is working to repair and heal itself while you sleep so it's important to use these products at night.  Women especially should be mindful of using them during the day as they will probably only cause your makeup to become cakey and streaky; they don't provide the best base for makeup products.

If your skin become red, inflamed, scaly, itchy, or otherwise irritated when using these products you should consider stopping immediately or at the very least using them less often.  Try applying them every other day as opposed to a daily treatment.