Acne Skin Care at Home

There are many products sold for the treatment of acne, many of them without any scientifically-proven effects. However, a mixture of treatments can greatly reduce the severity and amount of acne in many cases.

It is highly advisable to ask a specialist about the interactions between these treatments for any particular case, specially when considering applying any of them in combination. There are a number of treatments that have been proven effective.

Killing the bacteria that are harbored in the blocked follicles. This is performed either by the intake of antimicrobials or by treating the affected areas externally with bactericidal elements like erythromycin or benzoyl peroxide. However, destroying the P. acnes bacteria will not, in itself, do anything to reduce the oil secretion and abnormal cell behaviour that is the initial cause of the clogged follicles. Benzoyl Peroxide has the advantage of being a great oxidiser and does not seem to produce microbial resistance. Acne will usually reappear quite soon after the treatment has ended; days later in the case of local applications, and weeks later in the case of oral antibiotics.

Minimizing the secretion of oil from the glands. This is achieved by a daily oral dose of vitamin A derivatives like isotretinoin (marketed as Accutane) over a period of a few months. Isotretinoin has been demonstrated to be very effective in treating severe acne and is effective in 4 out of 5 patients. This drug has a much longer action than anti-microbial treatments and will usually eliminate acne for good. The treatment needs close medical supervision by a specialist because the drug has several known side effects, some of which can be severe. The most common side effects are dry skin and nosebleed. The drug also produces birth defects if women become pregnant while taking it or take it while pregnant. For this reason, female patients are asked to use two separate forms of birth control or vow abstinence while on the drug. Because of this, isotretinoin is supposed to be administered as a last resort after regular treatments have proven insufficient.

Exfoliating your skin. This can be performed either mechanically, using an abrasive cloth or a liquid scrub, or chemically. Common chemical exfoliating agents include salicylic acid and glycolic acid, which encourage the peeling of the external layer of skin to prevent an accumulation of devitalized skin cells which combine with skin oil to block pores. It also helps to unblock already blocked pores.

Note that the word "peeling" is not meant in the classic sense of shedding, but rather as the elimination of the external layer of skin cells at the microscopic level. According to the kind of exfoliation applied, some evident flaking is possible. If you want to give them a try, moisturizers and natural acne skin care products containing exfoliating agents are usually available over-the-counter.

A new acne skin care product offers the chance to eliminate scars, blemishes and other skin imperfections, while at the same time shields you skin and maintains its hydration.

- Patricia Bascunan