Acne Treatment: The Key Ingredients

by Bryanna Bredius

For those of us who have acne know that it can be quite a struggle to treat. The good news is that there is a wealth of research and knowledge that enable us to make new breakthroughs more often than not.

What exactly is Acne?

That would be the first step in understanding just how Acne is treated. Acne simply starts out as a pimple. The pimple starts out as a hair duct which becomes clogged in some way. The most common “clog” is usually caused by skin debris, fat, and keratin (this is the same protein that our nails and hair are made of). After time, the pore either stays open or it closes. If the pore closes while the clog remains, it eventually turns into what is most commonly called a “whitehead” or if you want to get technical, a closed comedo. I just love those little guys! They’re so awesome! If they don’t close over, the clog becomes hardened and turns into “The Great Blackhead” or an open comedo. Basically, the end result is bacteria that run a muck causing redness, inflammation and even pain (pain is usually associated with a nodule or a cyst). This is Acne.

What causes Acne?

Well, it’s not determined what the actual cause is. I suppose that it could be more of an individual thing. Just because medical science has no explanation, doesn’t mean that you can’t document your own flare-ups to see if a pattern emerges over time.

Is there a cure?

There is treatment. The key is to do your research (such as you are) and find what works for you. I would only use products that will offer a money back guarantee. Be aware that some products can lose their potency after extended use.

What are some good ingredients to look for in a treatment?

Well, Sulfur seems to be an ingredient that has been around for quite some time. It’s definitely proven its worth.

Another ingredient to look for would be Zinc. This aids in calming the skin (helps ward off colds as well) and helps to soothe the affected area.

Alpha Lipoic Acid seems to have a couple different uses. For one, it acts as an antioxidant which minimizes pores while firming the skin.

Salicylic Acid is another useful treatment when it comes to acne. It helps to dry out the affected area while minimizing redness. The tricky part is that you need a product to contain between 20 to 30 percent concentration in order for it to be as effective as if it were in a clinic.

The last thing that may be helpful is Licorice. Licorice is good to help balance out the skin tone because it’s actually somewhat of a bleaching agent. So it will be helpful when trying to repair some of the brown discolored spots that some people develop.

Though little is still known about what acne originates from, why or how it chooses its victims, there is one thing for sure; it does not discriminate. Whatever the skin color, whatever the age, and whatever the gender is completely inconsequential. Acne has been around forever and to my knowledge it does not seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. The good news is that you’re not alone and treatment gets better all the time. So in the meantime, the best thing to do is to stay educated, think positive, get involved with support groups and continue treatment the best way you know how.

Bryanna Bredius’ experience in this topic has come from an abundance of research, study, and a first hand trial and error approach. She considers herself to be her best test subject. To learn more about this topic and related issues, visit http://www.what-u-need.net/acne

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