If you ask an acne patient who for many years, has used a vast range of
topical acne treatments in the hope of finding one that successfully got rid
of all the acne spots on her face fully and consistently, whether or not she
managed to find one... you can bet that her answer will be, "No I didn't".
Millions of people all over the world break out with acne spots.
Unfortunately, only a very small proportion of them "luckily" get to meet
somebody who points them in the direction of finding a good quality acne
treatment. A topical cream that contains powerful natural and synthetic
ingredients that are put together in the right mix to make a formulation
that has the ability to effectiely free up some space in the follicular
openings in the epidermal layer of their skin. A cream that then allows
trapped oily sebum to flow out easily, which in turn, dramatically leaves
their skin looking clearer, smoother, tougher, younger, and enviable. A
product that does this well...
in fact, very well.
It's important to note that your skin is made up of several layers, and we
are concerned with the stratum corneum (which is in actual fact the upper
layer of the epidermal layer), the remainder of the epidermal layer itself,
and the dermis which lies beneath the epidermis. Why note this? Because
hyperstimulation of the sebaceous glands in response to a surge in
androgenic hormones is what starts everything off, and this happens in the
dermis. Also, many of the pronounced comedones form here. As far as the
epidermis and stratum corneum are concerned, these layers are full of
Propionibacterium Acnes, dirt, debris, and dead skin cells. You need to get
rid of these to make it easy to unblock the plugged follicles in the dermis.
The most efficient way to achieve this is by the process of "abrasion",
"sloughing", or exfoliation, which all mean the same thing really.
My intention here is to talk about specific ingredients that go inside ance
treatments that are topically applied, and why such ingredients set the
treatments that they are found in, apart from the money wasters. The below
average treatments that are merely adequate for people who break out with
the mildest form of acne. The type where they break out with one little tiny
red spot once in a blue moon. And this is certainly not the case with
somebody with large prominent pimples.
If you fit in this latter category of people and would like to know what
pioneering skincare experts include in their cosmetic products to bring them
to a standard where the formulation is able to effectively get rid of such
spots, then here are some pointers for you to follow before you purchase
your next acne treatment. This is a list of the most effective, and widely
used ingredients in good cosmetic products that will bring about a marginal
improvement in your complexion:
1. Glycolic Acid - This is number one on the list for a good reason, and
that reason is, that it is one of the most powerful and effective exfoliants
in the industry. Glycolic acid penetrates your skin, frees plugged pores and
follicles, and does this job well. I would suggest that you end your
frustrations with benzoyl peroxide and move onto this ingredient soon.
Glycolic acid is classified as an "alpha hydroxy acid" (AHA).
It is a naturally occuring chemical found in sugar cane. There are others -
namely lactic acid, citric acid, malic acid, and tartaric acid. These are
all less potent than glycolic acid, but they are now all found together in
home chemical peel kits.
Start using a glycolic acid face wash or moisturizer as soon as possible - a
5% concentration would be good to begin with.
2. Glycolic Compound - There are skin care products in the "chemical
peeling" market that consist of high strength glycolic acid, typically
20-70%. These contain something called "glycolic compound" - a pH-balanced
complex of glycolic acid and ammonium glycolate. You will find this compound
has helped several people achieve excellent results with their skin
problems, particularly acne. MD Formulations and MD Forte are top brands
that have released lotions, creams, and gels containing this ingredient.
3. Salicylic Acid - Also known as "beta hydroxy acid" and the only one. This
is usually found as a 2% concentration in most skincare products. Its mode
of action is similar to glycolic acid in that it causes skin cells to slough
off. Salicylic acid is a good choice if you get mild to moderate breakouts.
4. Ferulic Acid - This is commonly found in anti-aging products because of
it antioxidant properties. Your skin is undergoing constant oxidation. It is
being oxidized by free radicals, other environmental pollutants, and the UV
rays from the sun. You may think this to be inappropriate for your acne
condition, but antioxidants stop oxidation, and this helps to prevent
pre-existing scars and lines from advancing further.
Antioxidants also help post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation which is a
problem that many acne patients get. There are many antioxidants out there,
but this one is good and it's widely used in brands like Skinceuticals,
Murad, and Dr. Michelle Copeland.
The point to note here is that acne treatments "treat" through different
modes of action - exfoliation, dermabrasion, and anti-bacterial action for
example. But then there are others which work to "protect" and this is what
antioxidants do, so these can prove to be very effective, especially in
adult acne.
Overall, anti-oxidants are great at improving the integrity of your skin.
They give it the radiacne and the glowing effect that you're looking for.
5. Idebenone - Take the time to visit http://Prevageskin.co.uk and here you
can read about idebenone. I have chosen this product to demonstrate the
importance of stopping your skin from oxidizing.
Idebenone is an analogue of another anti-oxidant called Co-enzyme Q10. This
will make an expensive, but a potent free radical quencher.
6. Ascorbyl palmitate - You will find this in the famous Jan Marini C-ESTA
products. It is the fat-soluble form of vitamin C, another antioxidant. This
synthetic compound was made fat-soluble to improve its absorption through
the skin.
Water-soluble products don't penetrate the skin as well as lipid-soluble
ones. Again, this one is great for tightening up contours around scarred
regions in the T-Zone area, particularly around the nose.
So what I've tried to do here is to give you a good range of products like
glycolic acid and other alpha hydroxy acids that unplug your hair follicles
and allow oil and debris to flow out from under your skin, as well as
powerful antioxidants n the current market that improve the overall
integrity of your skin by giving it shine, glow, and make it less bumpy and
more smooth.
It's very easy to get wrapped up in the habit of sticking to prescribed
antibiotics, or OTC treatments for mild acne and end up frustrated having
realized that they don't work, and sometimes even make your acne worse. If
this is happening to you, start branching out by discovering more advanced
treatments that contain the ingredients discussed herein, and you never
know... a breakthrough in finding a treatment that works wonders for you may
be just weeks away.
About The Author: Sonny Dhinjan is the author of the Topical Acne Treatments
Blog at http://www.lookingforacnecreams.com
where you can get great suggestions for quality acne treatments that get
real results, and advice to help you get rid of your acne spots and
post-acne problems like scarring.
