Which brand is best for skincare?

Acne and its treatment

Acne is a menace. However, it’s not something that cannot be tackled. There are loads of acne skin care products around. We can classify acne skin care products into 3 broad categories – 

* Preventive or general acne skincare products.

* Over-the-counter, specialized acne skincare products. 

* On-prescription acne skincare products. 

The general acne skincare products are the ones that are used as an acne-prevention measure.

These include cleansers, make-up removers, and similar products that help prevent acne. In the real sense, these acne skin care products are just those that should anyway be part of your daily routine.

Skincare

However, some of these are more oriented to act like acne skincare products. These acne skin care products act against the causes of acne e.g. limiting the production of sebum/oil and preventing clogging of skin pores.

Basically, these acne skin care products prevent the oil from getting trapped in pores and hence hamper the growth of bacteria that lead to acne.

The general acne skin care products also include exfoliation products like skin peels. These work towards removing dead skin cells, hence reducing the possibility of pore-clogging and bacteria development.

Then there are specialized acne skincare products that are available over-the-counter i.e. without the need for a prescription.

These include products like vanishing creams which extract the extra oil from the skin. Most of these acne skin care products are based on benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, both of which are the enemies of bacteria (and hence acne).

Skincare

You should start with a product that has a lower concentration of benzoyl peroxide (e.g. 5%) and see how your skin responds to it.  Alpha-hydroxy-acid-based moisturizers are also popular as acne skin care products.

You might have to try a few before you zero in on the acne skin care product that is effective for you. If nothing seems to work, you should contact a dermatologist. 

On-prescription acne skincare products are the ones that are prescribed by a dermatologist. This can include ointments that can be applied to the affected area oral antibiotics or just any topical treatment.

Dermatologists could also suggest a minor surgical procedure to remove the contents of pustules.  However, never try to squeeze or do this by yourself, it can lead to permanent damage to your skin.

Your doctor could also prescribe a hormone-based treatment (since hormonal changes are also known to cause acne). Such acne skin care products are known to be very effective in some cases.