Skin Care for Adult Acne

Keeping the pores open requires a great deal of perseverance. At first, the skin may be unwilling to co-operate, with clogged pores abound. These can be removed by direct intervention: tweezers or even going to a spa and getting pores vacuumed can be a great help. After this, regular maintenance can be achieved with a back brush and washcloth, keeping the pores clear of any bacteria. Proper moisturizing afterward not only aids in care for dry skin common in adult acne, but acts as a sealant to the bacteria that cause acne.

With all adult acne treatments, it is important to go about treatment incrementally, starting with the most mild and natural methods, then moving on to more caustic skin care treatments. Since the body's response to acne treatments is quite varied, any one of these methods can work particularly well and save you the hassle of having to take "harder" drugs to fight adult acne.

Most dermatologists will prescribe typical over the counter medications for mild to moderate cases of acne. Benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, sulfur, and resorcinal are the most common of these medications. Each of these medicines work in very different ways, and are focused toward different types of acne.

In the adult acne condition known as Propionibacterium acnes, or P. acnes for short, bacteria to infests in clogged follicles, causing the familiar acne conditions. Benzoyl peroxide breaks down these areas, and can also reduce oil production. Salicylic acid, resorcinol, and sulfur work by keratolysis, promoting the growth of new skin, thus thwarting the appearance of blackheads and whiteheads. Salicylic acid is particularly efficient at this, and, like sulfur, is a natural adult acne skin care remedy.

These adult acne medicines are easily recognizable even by brand name. Benzoyl peroxide can be found in Clearasil, Fostex, Persa-Gel, and PanOxyl Dryox. Salicylic acid can be found in Stridex, Oxy Night Watch, and the Clearasil Clearstick. Sulfur can be found in Sulpho-Lac Acne Medication, Liquimat, Therac Lotion, and Sulmasque.

Complete Acne Therapy systems have grown in popularity in recent years, in no small part due to the success of the Proactiv acne solution. The irony of the success of these products is that they are simply sets of commonly available acne preventives. Most skin care advice for adult acne products will recommend the same things: a regimen of benzoyl peroxide based medications, salicylic acids, and general good skin care involving regular soaps. This way, they can all claim to be "dermatologist recommended," and it's completely true. They are technically completely true, because every dermatologist will recommend benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid before progressing to more "hard" medicines. The best products to fight adult acne will always be the best products to fight adult acne.

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Proactiv has the most visibility of these "Complete Acne Therapy" systems, but there are plenty more that can be found at any drug store. Among the most popular of these sets is the Neutrogena Advanced Therapy System, which contains a bottle of salicylic acid, a bottle of SPF-15 lotion, and a bottle of benzoyl peroxide. None of these "Complete Acne Therapy" systems claim to be a miracle, and they all require strict adherence to their regimens. Proactiv has brought these systems a great deal of attention through their numerous celebrity sponsors such as Jessica Simpson, Elle Macpherson, and Vanessa Williams in their recurring television commercials. This campaign has met with great success, as 7 million people has thus far utilized the Proactiv system. Again though, it's not greatly different from most of the benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid products available.

Active ingredient concentrations are the same for all of these products, as anything less would be ineffective, and anything more would be toxic. The only difference is that some of these products (such as Proactiv) will include exfoliating scrubs, These scrubs clear clogged pores in the same fashion that regular back brushing and wash cloth usage would. These scrubs can be a great benefit to the whole acne regimen, and open, clean pores are a great start to proper skin care, adult acne or not. Proper skin treatment keeps one looking young as well as keeping the skin fresh and clean.

An active skin care regimen can prevent acne in the first place. Acne is a common affliction, but is often caused by negligence. Even Complete Skin Care solutions require responsible, diligent application every day. Before drastic measures are taken, use all common natural and drugstore solutions.

While it is the fashionable thing to do to acquire the most caustic medicines on the planet to get rid of adult acne fast, it is often an expensive, dangerous, and needless endeavor. Natural cures for acne offer a both interesting and effective alternative. Click here to read more about natural acne cures.