It wasn't that long ago when acne (Zits) was considered a curse for the many individuals that suffer from this problem; but that doesn't mean it's something that cannot be tackled. It is one of those areas where research has continued to make advancements; the result of this effort is a growing range of effective treatments. The acne skin care products available fall into these: <UL TYPE="square"> *Preventative: Creams, lotions etc. to help cleanse and tone the skin *Internet or Drugstore: Treatment to help relieve the condition *Prescription only: From a doctor or dermatologist for more serious conditions </UL

Those that fall into the preventative category are based around general skin conditioning to help stop acne from forming; these products can be anything from skin cleansers to makeup removers. In the real sense, these products are just those that should be part of your daily routine; often this is irrespective of whether or not there is a problem condition. More specialized cleaners are designed in the same way as acne skin care products; devised primarily to limit the amount of oil or sebum forming in the pores. When the pores become clogged with this oil, bacteria which can cause the problem begin to grow.

This type of skin care treatment also includes those which exfoliate such as skin peels; most can even be purchased over the Internet in addition to normal outlets. 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. The growth of the skin care market has allowed even more specialized acne skin care products to be available without the need to visit the doctor. These formulations contain the chemical benzoyl peroxide and the naturally occurring salicylic acid; these ingredients are used to remove the additional oil in the pores of the skin.

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; if a reaction occurs, a cleaner or cream containing alpha hydroxy acid should be safe. As with any type of zit cream, you may need to try a few acne skin care products until you find one that will suit your skin; however, if finding an effective remedy it is proving to be a problem then consult with your doctor, or skin care specialist. Products that your dermatologist or doctor will recommend will only be available on prescription, they may include a course of antibiotics or topical ointments.

In some case your doctor may suggest the pustules are drained of harmful contents under local anesthetic; specialists never recommend the sufferer tries this themselves as it can cause permanent skin damage. Another effective course of skin care treatment is hormone therapy; hormone changes are known to be one cause of acne. Science has produced many effective treatments for this unkind condition.