What To Look For In Acne Cures

You wake up one morning and upon looking at the mirror, you discover in wild horror that you have developed a few pimples overnight. In panic you cry, "Acne!" This would be a typical scenario among many households especially where teenagers reside. However, before reaching for a handful of over-the-counter acne cures, it would be beneficial for you to remember that not all cases of pimples are indicative of acne.

Nevertheless, if you have indeed acquired acne, the immediate and obvious manifestation of this is the occurrence of pimples. What then is the difference between acne and pimples? To some extent it is just semantics; most people use acne and pimples interchangeably. To be thorough about it, acne refers to the infection of the skin's pores brought about by the P. acnes bacteria. It is this bacterial infection that gives rise to the symptomatic pimples.

Factors contributing to acne
There are three distinct things that are happening which are contributory to the condition we refer to as acne.

First of all, the pores of the skin - and they are indeed numerous - gets blocked by the constantly sloughed dead skin cells. This blockage of the pores allows the oils of our skin, referred to as sebum, to accumulate. This build up of sebum is the second contributing condition.

The third factor, which is also the defining condition for acne is the infection of the lining of the pores by the bacteria Propionibacterium acnes. The bacteria are abundant and are largely a resident of the skin's microscopic ecosystem. It feeds off on the sebum and the subsequent infection of the pores results in the breaking down of the surrounding skin tissues, thus producing the dreaded pimple.

What acne cures should do
Knowing these three factors that allows the acne condition to exist and persist, the acne cure you should avail must answer these key areas on a point by point basis.

First, it must unblock the pores as well as prevent blockage altogether. Washing the skin with soap, helps to some extent as good hygienic practices are always advisable. However, the blockage is not easily removed due to the hyperkeratinization of the dead skin cells, bonding them closely together and making them harder to detach from the pore. Topical retinoids, such as tretinoin and adapalene and retinol, have a way of normalizing the way dead skin cells slough off and in this sense is an effective remedy for this acne causing factor.

Secondly, an acne cure should address the increase in sebum. Oily skin has always been seen as a precursor to pimples and acne. Hence, if the excess sebum is not addressed it is possible for the acne to recur. Too much washing of the affected skin, while it may address the need to remove accumulated oils, can also trigger an overproduction of sebum. Hormonal changes during puberty are the logical impetus for over active sebaceous glands that produce the sebum. Therefore, hormonal therapy may be helpful in this regard as well as proper hygiene.

Fighting off the bacterial infection is the third important aspect that acne cures must achieve. Here, topical bactericidals and antibiotics serve its purpose. Among the well known ingredients utilized for topical acne medications is benzoyl peroxide.

Most anti-acne solutions do not address all three factors that contribute to acne. Thus, doctors may sometimes prescribe a regimen consisting of a combination of acne cures. Handling acne is obviously a balancing act. Therefore consult with a good doctor to ensure that your fight against acne stands a good chance of success.