Anyone that suffers with acne (Zits) may feel as if they spend most of their time searching for remedies; Fortunately, skin care treatments are plentiful. This is a skin complaint that affects many people around the world so scientific research to find a cure is fierce; gradually more effective topical treatments are being discovered and made available. Despite the number of acne skin care products currently available on the market, they are broadly categorized into three distinctly separate groups: <UL TYPE="square"> *Over-the-counter: Preventative *Over-the-counter *Prescription: Issued for specialized medication from a doctor etc. </UL

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; in many instances the user has never had a skin condition to worry about. Some of these products are designed to act like an acne skin care product and act against the causes of this complaint; they clean out the pores to help stop sebum or oil which can clog these areas. Excess oil needs to be stopped from clogging the pores as this oil make it easier for bacteria to grow, exacerbating the condition.

Skin care treatments such as exfoliation skin peels, clean the skin and help control the spread of the condition; these are easily obtainable in any drug store. They work by reducing oil plus other contaminants from the skin and in the pores; this can reduce harmful bacteria and stop their chance of growth. There are specialized acne skin care products available over-the-counter, they do not require the need of a prescription. Most of these creams etc. are based on benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, both of which are the enemies of bacteria (and hence acne); they work by removing the excess oil from the skin and halt the growth of acne.

Dermatologists recommend any product should have low concentrations of the active ingredient benzoyl peroxide (no more than 5.5 parts per hundred) if there is an adverse reaction; a safer alternative to benzoyl peroxide is anything containing alpha hydroxy acid. 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. If you do need to see your doctor or skin care specialist then he may give you a prescription for antibiotics or special ointments.

Under certain circumstances, having the infected material removed from the pores under a local anesthetic may be suggested by your dermatologist; specialists never recommend the sufferer tries this themselves as it can cause permanent skin damage. Your doctor may even suggest a course of hormone therapy as a skin care treatment; this type of skin care treatment has been very effective in many cases. Tackling this skin condition is not the problem it once was and if treated properly permanently marked skin does not have to happen.