The Best Acne Treatment - Is There One?

To choose the best acne treatment is an difficult task because not all acne is the same. There are a number of different types of acne, and there is no common treatment that equally effective for each. Nor are there treatments that work with each form of acne in the same way, since the treatment depends a great deal on the severity of the condition.  For instance, the treatment for a severe case of back acne will be different than a milder form of facial acne.

One of the more effective acne treatments is benzoyl peroxide, which is the active ingredient behind many different topical treatments such as Clearasil max and ProActive. However, you have to be careful with benzoyl peroxide on your face because it could cause irritation of your skin.  It is better used on thicker skin, and is therefore widely used for treating back acne. It not only possesses antibacterial properties but it also promotes the flaking of dead surface skin cells.  

One of the problems with acne is that a treatment that one person finds effective might not be so for another. Each person has to find the most effective treatment for their own condition.  There are however some general treatment guidelines that can be provided.  For instance, it certainly helps if an antibacterial soap and exfoliating body scrub are used where it is appropriate to do so. Obviously you will need a less vigorous scrub for your face. 

If you follow this up with a commercial antibacterial acne treatment, then you will have as good a chance as any of controlling your condition or even curing it. If your acne is deeper and more persistent, a treatment designed to reduce the production of sebum, the oil that is believed responsible for acne, would be an effective way of preventing it from getting worse and possibly stopping it altogether.  A very effective prescription for acne treatment is isotretinoin (e.g. Accutane), a Vitamin A based treatment. It can only be prescribed by a doctor if the acne is severe and persistent, and is not suitable for anybody with liver problems.  

With regard to topical acne creams, Vitamin A (retinol) can be effective, although a proportion of the population contract dry and flaking skin when they use it.  Basically, that is how it works: it promotes the flaking off of the top skin cell. It is a topical form of the oral isotretinoin, but not as strong. It is not the perfect treatment, and like most acne treatments, it will suit some more than others.  

Antibiotic treatments can be effective, particularly when used in conjunction with skin-shedding applications such as benzoyl peroxide or retinol. However, most topical treatments will show few benefits for at least six months, so you are looking at long-term treatments rather than the quick fix. In fact there are no quick fixes for acne, although laser treatment can produce rapid results in serious cases.  

Oral contraceptives have been found to work for women with acne. A combination of the testosterone suppressant cyproterone acetate and the hormone ethinylestradiol (eg Dianette) has been found to be an effective treatment. It works by suppressing the male hormones (that all women have) and reduces the generation of sebum.  

There is really no such thing as the best acne treatment because each works differently with different people. This simply indicates the difficulty in understanding the true causes and nature of the condition.  The way for you to find the best acne treatment for you is start off with the milder treatments and work up.  If these don't work, then your physician might suggest an acne medication or treatment plan that may be more effective.  Eventually, you physician will hopefully come across an acne treatment that suits you. The best acne treatment for an individual is the one that works.