Common acne treatments involve the removal of dead skin cells, bacteria, excess oil and irritants. These acne treatments don't work 100% and often cause just as much damage as they solve.

Basic Acne Treatments

Typical treatments, including benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, exfoliate and remove extra skin, disinfect and clear away oil and other irritants on the surface of the skin. Most treatments significantly dry and irritate the skin, further aggravating acne. The free radicals that are released by benzoyl peroxide actually directly harm the skin.

Additional acne method alternatives include antibiotics, topical or ingested. A doctor might prescribe accutane, an isotretinoin. This acne medication is usually last on the list of dermatologists and used when all other options have failed. They inhibit sebum production. They are typically avoided until absolutely necessary due to their severe side effects.

Although you will learn how to clean your skin and get rid of oil, bacteria and keratin in a typical 'how to treat acne' lesson, a truly successful acne treatment will teach you more. Firstly, removing these elements from your skin does not stimulate proper healing of skin tissue. An all around acne solution will also prompt the skin to heal itself, in addition to removing the skin of the factors that cause acne.

Acne Vulgaris Cosmetic Treatments

Methods that assist in encouraging rejuvenation include acne laser treatment, chemical peels, dermabrasion and microdermabrasion. The underlying idea behind these methods is the controlled irritation or removal of skin cells to stimulate skin cell replication. The skin cells of the lower layers of the skin divide and create a healthy, new layer.

Light as a form of killing bacteria is entering the market. Prior, UV light was used until it was discovered to alter cell DNA. Blue light acne treatment uses a special blue light that, in the process of disinfecting the skin, does not damage the skin. This treatment is not a cure for everyone and can be quite expensive, requiring several treatments to reach its desired effect.

Supporting the Skin and Immune System

A balanced diet is important for healthy skin. The skin is the largest organ of the body and needs antioxidants and vitamins to be well-maintained. Most people do not eat the recommended 3-5 servings of vegetables every day.

A diet rich in vitamin A and vitamin B complex is essential for keeping acne free skin. Vitamin A is a powerful antioxidant that also strengthens the protective tissue of the skin and can help reduce sebum production. It also participates in the management and reconstruction of skin. There are many vitamin Bs, therefore, it is called vitamin B complex. Together, these vitamins revitalize skin and alleviate stress (that itself is a cause of acne). Other tasks include maintaining proper functioning of the adrenal glands and the immune system, systematic removal of toxins and increasing blood flow.

It is essential to have a healthy immune system. Did you know that what you see as acne is actually the body's immune response to foreign bodies and cell damage? There are topical creams available that can assist your skin in its immune response, right at the site of the acne lesion. Products with natural antimicrobial properties can help you support the immune system in its response to rid the body of antigens without the drying and other harsh side effects of traditional prescription therapies. Now available are natural treatments that have proven effective in reducing infection by sending signals to the body that increase the discharge of the skin's own antimicrobial peptides.

Unfortunately, side effects of your immune system working are the unsightly inflammation and redness that makeup can't hide. Steroids and other prescription treatments used to reduce inflammation have negative side effects and actually suppress the immune system. The best way to treat acne is with an acne treatment that will calm inflammation naturally and help manage the body's inflammatory reaction, without suppressing the immune system.