For most of us that take pride in the way we look, the thought of suffering with acne or Zits, may at first seem awful; but that doesn’t mean it’s something that cannot be tackled. A great deal of money is being spent researching the condition; now, some of these skin conditions are gradually being conquered. Although the number of acne skin care products and treatments might at first seem endless, they can actually be categorized into three areas:

* Those that help prevent the condition

* Over-the-counter: Treatment

* Prescription: Dermatologist or Doctor, specialist cream or ointment

Preventative products are formulated to treat the skin in an effort to control the occurrence of acne; these include cleansers, make-up removers and other similar products that can help prevent the condition. Whilst many sufferers use these products there are even more who just want to keep their skin clean and conditioned; many use these products to protect their skin from the environment even if they do not have the acne condition. There are acne skin care products that are more specialized in there approach; they ensure the facial pores (and other areas) remain free of oil. These skin care products are designed to prevent this from happening.

Exfoliation skin peels have proved quite effective as a skin care treatment and at controlling the problem; these are easily obtainable in any drug store. These work towards removing dead skin cells, reducing the possibility of pore-clogging and bacteria development. Many other acne skin care products have become available over the counter and on the internet; they don’t usually require a prescription. A bacterium that aids the formation of acne is stopped by creams and cleansers that contain benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid; they work by removing the excess oil from the skin and halt the growth of acne.

It is often a good idea to start with a product that has lower concentration of benzoyl peroxide (e.g. 5 percent) to see how the skin responds; alpha-hydroxy-acid based moisturizers are a safer skin care regime alternative if there is a problem. It might just be a case of trial and error to find an acne skin care product that works; if finding something that works is proving difficult, your dermatologist should be able to help. Products that your dermatologist or doctor will recommend will only be available on prescription, they may include a course of antibiotics or topical ointments.

Your dermatologist may suggest a minor surgical procedure to remove the contents of pustules; however, sufferers are warned never to attempt this as it could lead to serious skin problems. An alternative that has been shown to work well is hormone therapy; hormonal changes are known to cause acne and such skin care treatments often effective. Constant research has paid off, and whilst they cannot cure the condition, it is becoming easier to treat.