Everybody gets zits. True, some of us get more than others, but nobody escapes puberty (or life for that matter) without dealing with
the odd flare up. Things like stress, hormones, environment and life style can cause break outs, but more often than not how badly
you get acne depends on one thing -- genetics. Yes, it is sad but true, if zits are in your genes there is nothing you can do to
stop them from coming. But don't despair, you can successfully control most break outs and flare ups with over-the-counter
acne products and we've assembled a list of the most teen friendly products on the market. Whether you prefer medicated products
or natural therapies, we can help you find the ones that work and avoid the ones that don't.
Before you buy any acne treatment product you should take the following into consideration:
Know your skin type. People with oily skin should choose a gel based product, those with dry skin should choose a cream.
If you are like most people and have combination skin, choose the product that best works with the afflicted area. If your acne
flares up in the oily spots, choose a gel, if it is the dry skin that gets the zits, choose a cream.
The more sensitive your skin, the lower concentration of active ingredient you will need. Choosing a product that is too strong
could actually make the situation worse by over drying the area and causing the skin to react by increasing oil production. This can
end up causing more acne. If you have sensitive skin, stick with the milder formulations.
Some mild creams can be used as a preventative measure, but most acne creams are too harsh to be used before you see or feel a zit.
Read the lables carefully and only apply the medication to places that are acne prone or actually have acne present.
If the acne is excessively painful, or if it becomes painful after trying an OTC product, try taking an anti-inflammatory medication
like ibuprofen and get to a doctor ASAP.
If your skin has large pustules that appear in clusters, if they are painful, if your acne causes scars, or if you can't
seem to get rid of a blemish (it starts to go away only to reappear just when you thought it was gone), your acne may require
treatment by a doctor.
Top 10 Overall
Regardless of category or active ingredients, these products are quite simply the best.
Medicated Products Medicated products contain a chemical that dries up the pimple while acting as an exfoliant. The most common ingredients used for this purpose are
are benzoyl peroxide and salycic acid. People with sensitive skin should choose a product that contains salycic acid over one containing benzoyl peroxide.
The amount of drying chemical added to a product is measured in terms of percentage, with
the stronger creams having a higher percentage (or concentration) of the active ingredient. Contrary to the "more is better" instinct,
the highest concentration is not always the most effective, it all depends on your skin type and the sort of acne you are dealing with.
Some acne will not respond well to OTC products and must be treated by a doctor or dermatologist (skin specialist).
Natural Products Natural products contain various naturally occuring ingredients, usually plant extracts, that work to dry up the pimple and sooth the
effected area. Most of these products are blends of natural ingredients like Vitamin E, grapeseed oil, calendula, aloe vera or witch hazel
and essential oils, but there are a few essential oils that work well in treating acne when used alone or with a single carrier oil.
Natural treatments contain ingredients to dry the blemish, sooth the redness and add moisture
to the irritated area. It is important to note that just because
a product is natural doesn't mean that it is mild. People with sensitive skin should be every bit
as careful when using a natural treatment as they are when using one that is medicated. Natural products can be
very irritating to sensitive skin and can even cause reactions in people with allergies like hay fever. As with medicated treatments,
if a natural treatment makes the acne worse or causes a painful reaction you should stop using the product and see a doctor right away.
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