Just Acne

Acne is one of the most degrading and embarrassing conditions when it is severe. Even when it is light, teenagers have been known to stay home from school because of the embarrassment of being seen with an unsightly pimple in the middle of their face. Finding an acne remedy that works is exceedingly important to people who suffer from chronic acne or even the occasional pimple. Your face is the focal point of your body and acne can destroy the self esteem of anyone, at any age, if not treated properly.

Many types of acne remedies are available over the counter. Some work extremely well while others have less of an effect or can even aggravate your skin further. Your treatment should start with some basic steps you can do on your own to prevent pimples from forming. Home remedies for acne do not have to include putting strange concoctions on your face. Your first line of defense is simple soap and water. Keep in mind that skin with acne is sensitive so you should use a mild soap. Many natural soaps are suitable for acne prone skin. When you dry your face, be gentle. Harsh rubbing while washing or drying can actual aggravate acne. Make sure to wash your face twice a day to remove oils and dirt from the skin’s surface that can cause acne.

The next home remedy for acne that you can implement at home is making sure that you eat well. Although it is not proven that chocolate and chips cause acne, it is certain that they do not help it. Eat healthy and drink plenty of water to hydrate the skin and flush out toxins. Certain vitamins may be useful. It is known for instance the skin flair-ups in general and acne in particular can be caused by stress. B12 is a vitamin that reduces stress and may be helpful. Do not take every vitamin or mineral simultaneously that you hear is good for acne. Take each one separately so that you can isolate it and see if it has an effect on your skin.

These natural remedies for acne are an excellent starting point but usually not enough for people with chronic acne. There are different creams available in the pharmacy but the one that tends to be most effective are creams containing the ingredient Benzoyl Peroxide. Benzoyl Peroxide not only kills the bacteria associated with acne but it also dries up your pimples. Although it comes in strengths as high as 10%, it has been shown that higher strains do not necessarily carry any more punch in fighting your acne. In fact, they may even aggravate your skin by over drying it. Contrary to popular opinion, acne prone skin should not be continually dried out. It need moisture as well, albeit the right type of moisture without chemicals or oils that can cause more acne to form.

Start with a product with 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide in it and apply it generously to an extended area around the pimples and not only on the pimples themselves. This will ensure that acne causing bacteria on the surronding skin will be eliminated.

Apply the cream twice a day and let it dry. Beware that Benzoyl Peroxide has a bleaching quality so be careful not to get it on your clothes. It is best to apply it after getting dressed as pulling a shirt over your head will get the cream on the shirt and cause discoloration.

It may be counter intuitive to think about moisturizing acne prone skin but moisturizing is very helpful to the health and appearance of your skin. When the Benzoyl Peroxide cream has dried, apply a non-cosmegenic moisturizer to your face. Moisturizers with AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acid) are especially helpful for removing dead skin from your face. This not only gives your face a smoother appearance but removes some of the particles that can clog your pores and cause acne to spread.