Home & Family Facts and Notes

There are oral medications available that kill acne-causing bacteria. Oral medications like tetracycline, minocycline and doxycycline are antibiotics that those with acne prone skin can take. In addition, there are topical antibiotics or bactericides such as benzoyl peroxide or erythromycin. However, acne is bacteria that can become resistant to antibiotics. The bacteria appears to not develop any resistance to benzoyl peroxide, however.

It is generally accepted that exfoliating the skin will help to minimize your acne problems. Exfoliating products containing ingredients such as glycolic acid and salicyclic acid will work to peel the top layer of skin. This will definitely assist in the prevention of dead skin build up which if left untreated will mix with the oil produced by the skin and clog the pores. A soft cloth or liquid scrub can be used in this treatment.

Salicyclic acid which is known to assist in acne treatment can be found in a number of over-the-counter remedies. This works by softening the skin before removing the dead skin cells.There are a number of facial washes available which contain Salicyclic Acid. Some products containing Sulfur are accepted by some people as having the ability to reduce their acne problems. Another ingredient - Glycolic Acid is found in a number of acne medications and also in some anti-aging products.

In addition to the acne medications and products there is an abundance of natural remedies. One of these which is gaining popularity is tea tree oil. This has been found to kill acne causing bacteria and also helps to reduce the inflammation and redness which is normally present in the affected areas. It is certainly as effective as benzoyl peroxide and does not cause any skin irritation. You will find that most health food stores have tea tree oil in stock.

For those whose acne is the result of hormonal imbalances in the body, they have found that acupuncture is effective in restoring the balance. When the balance of hormones is restored, the result is acne free skin.

Those who have used acupuncture to alleviate their acne problems also have made lifestyle changes, including switching to a diet that is less oily and consisting of few dairy products.

There is a great number of people who believe that the bacteria which causes acne is sensitive to light’s blue wavelength and as a consequence they use the natural remedy of light therapy.This involves shining blue light on to the affected area of skin for approximately 15 minutes twice a week over an extended period of 4 weeks. One of the drawbacks is the cost which can be around $150 per session.A lot of users have reported good results but it must be said that this treatment is not 100% effective. A major advantage is that there are no side effects as blue light does not harm the skin.

Despite all the efforts of the medical fraternity they have not been able to come up with a perfect cure for acne. There are certainly any number of treatments and methods which you can use but none of them will work for everyone.

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