Are you one of the millions of adults who have acne? Many adults are dealing with acne, the first signs of wrinkles and grey hair all at the same time - talk about physical and emotional tolls. Life just seems too unfair at times. Fortunately, there are some simple solutions for treating acne. Really. You don’t have to live with it.

To properly treat acne, one must first understand what causes it. When hair follicles and sebaceous glands become inflamed acne follows soon after. Sebum is an oily substance made by the sebaceous glands. Bacterial growth and inflammation result when too much sebum is produced. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, the four basic mechanisms contributing to acne are hormones, increased sebum production, changes inside hair follicles, and bacteria.

These simple solutions require persistence and consistency.

First things first, talk to a Dermatologist. A Dermatologist can provide you with the best solutions for you based on your medical history, age, skin type etc. Depending on the severity of your acne and your individual circumstances, your Dermatologist may want to prescribe an antibiotic, a vitamin A derivative like Isotretinoin, or one of the other acne drugs now available.

Use non-comedogenic products. Non-comedogenic basically means - not likely to block the pores of the skin, or cause blackheads or acne. There are many non-comedogenic products available today, including, makeup, foundation, moisturizers, sunscreen, lip stick, etc. If it’s something that you apply to your skin you should be able to find a non-comedogenic version. In fact, you can also find non-comedogenic and medicated makeup with acne fighting ingredients like, benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, and sulfur. These products shouldn’t clog your pores and should help treat acne.

Proper skin care is also very important. Gently washing with a facial cleanser that contains benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, or sulfur will also kill the bacteria that causes acne. Proactiv Solution is one such product that is used my millions of people - with great results. Whatever product you decide to use, do not scrub your face as this can irritate your skin and make your acne worse.

Even though there is no cure for acne, there are several effective methods available today to treat it. By discussing your acne with a Dermatologist you can determine the best course of action for you. In the mean time, keep your chin up - there are treatments available that will help you with your acne situation. Imagine waking up one morning and noticing how clear your face is becoming. It really is a great feeling!

Kay Smith is the webmaster of BestAcneSolutions.com which provides information, product reviews and news on acne and acne related products.

If you are an acne sufferer let me ask you a question. “What are the three most common and effective acne treatments?” There are many acne treatments available to those who suffer from this type of skin condition. There are hundreds of doctor prescribed and over-the-counter acne treatments. There are herbal home remedy treatments. Chemical peels are a popular type of acne treatment, as well.

Topical Antibiotics must be prescribed by a doctor or health care professional. Common topical acne treatments include Clindamycin© and Erythromycin©. This type of treatment kills acne bacteria. It also helps to keep pores open and reduces infection. As a rule, these antibiotics come in liquid, gel and lotion form. They are usually applied twice daily.

Popular over-the-counter acne treatments contain the ingredient benzoil peroxide. Clearasel© is probably the most well-known benzoil peroxide product. Like topical antibiotics, benzoil peroxide helps to kill bacteria. It also aids in the reduction of clogged hair ducts.

This type of product works best if applied two times each day. To treat acne, apply to all affected areas. If after four to six weeks you notice little change, it is best to then consult your family doctor.

There are several home remedy type acne treatments. Many people report excellent results when trying this kind of acne treatment. Others will tell you that this type of treatment is not effective, at all. It is up to you to make your own decision in regard to home remedy, acne treatment options.

Home remedies are popular acne and skin care treatments because they are much less expensive than prescription drugs and the oils and things used, tend to be good for the skin.

Probably the three most common herbal remedy treatments are tea tree oil, echinacea and goldenseal. Aloe, chamomile, primrose oil, vitamin E and zinc are also said to be helpful.

Tea tree oil comes from Australia and is 100% natural. It has been used to treat problems such as acne, sunburn, blisters, rashes and more, for more than sixty years. It kills bacteria and acts as a natural fungicide. Tea tree oil is very soothing. It is said to go deep beneath the surface of the skin, killing germs and aiding in the removal of pus-like infections. This is something that cannot be accomplished with astringents.

Chamomile has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. It has also been used in the treatment of windburn, eczema and numerous types of rashes. Chamomile eases itching and speeds the healing process.

A chemical peel is both a popular and effective acne treatment. It is sometimes referred to as a derma-peel, and is a non-surgical procedure. It removes acne and acne scaring.

Chemical peels are performed by, first, applying a chemical mixture to the skin. This thin layer is then peeled away, when dry. It removes with it the outer layer of damaged skin, revealing new healthy skin underneath.

There are three kinds of chemical peels, used for treating acne. They are light, medium and deep peels. Each one penetrates skin at different levels. Light peels can be performed at home, using an over-the counter treatment. Medium peels can be done at most spas and salons. Deep peels should be performed by a physician.

Light and medium peels are performed to treat acme-damaged skin. Deep peels are done to correct and treat more serious acne damage.

If you would like to get more acne treatment information you can visit our website which contains many acne treatment resources. http://www.acne-secrets.info

This article is copyright 2005, but can be freely reprinted, as long as no changes are made, including hyperlinks.