Ask the doctor


The Common Treatments for Acne

The skin is often looked at by people asdevelop redness, rashes, and other side
an outward sign of a person's hygieneeffects that can add to one's social
and health. Subconsciously, human beingsanxiety, rather than help relieve it.
tend to associate smooth, clear skinMedically speaking, adults often find it
with being in good physical condition.harder to tolerate benzoyl peroxide, as
Good skin is also perceived as one ofcompared to teenagers. An alternative
the most obvious signs of physicalfor acne medication (and the subsequent
beauty.relief from social anxiety) can come in
The preoccupation with skin care has ledthe form of treatments that make use of
to a boom in the skin care productsalicylic acid.
industry. These skin care products areSalicylic acid works on acne in a
marketed to cater to the large marketdifferent manner from benzoyl peroxide.
that demands a variety of preparationsWhile the peroxide compound works by
to treat dry skin, control oily skin,targeting the bacterial infections
and even to "reverse" the aging process.behind acne, salicylic acid functions as
Today, manufacturers of beauty productsan exfoliant. The acid works by peeling
have expanded their beauty line toaway layers of the skin, subsequently
include concoctions to cure skinalso peeling away the acne gradually.
infections. The products that areThe acid is considered to be milder than
usually bought to control skinthe peroxide, though it can still have
infections usually include those thatside effects. Additionally, salicylic
are supposed to treat adult acne (acneacid is not as effective an acne
rosacea) and teenage acne (acnetreatment option as benzoyl peroxide,
vulgaris). Adult acne and teenage acnesimply because it lacks the raw chemical
are two entirely different things,potency of the peroxide.
though most scientists believe the rootThere are some dermatologists that
causes are essentially the same. Theresuggest combination treatments as a way
are currently no concrete findings onto relieve acne. The approach works by
what the ultimate cause of acne is,having people apply salicylic acid
though most studies point to bacteriaduring the day time, as it is the
being the most prevalent factor in bothcompound that has a lower chance of
rosacea and vulgaris problems. Theinducing side effects. The benzoyl
single, definitive cause has yet to beperoxide is then applied at night,
found but the countless studies havebefore sleeping. This reduces the
shown the medical world that there are achances that the side effects would
number of possible solutions to bothinterfere with the patient's daily life,
acne rosacea and acne vulgaris. Theseas well as reduce the chances of the
treatments promise to help alleviate theperoxide bleaching clothing.
problem of acne, as well as alleviateIn your typical pharmacy, there are
the social anxiety that people withvarious treatments for acne and other
severe cases of acne experience.skin infections, and not all of them
Skin infections like acne rosacea andwill contain salicylic acid or benzoyl
teenage acne are typically caused byperoxide. That doesn't mean that they
bacterial infections in the skin. Amongdon't work as well, it's just that they
the many core ingredients of theprobably work differently from the
medications used to treat acne andaforementioned types of treatments.
similar bacterial infections is benzoylWhether one decides to take an
peroxide. In the case of acne, benzoylover-the-counter treatment or go for a
peroxide works by attacking theprescription, the important thing to
bacteria, effectively attempting to cutremember is that once the acne has been
off the acne at the source. However,effectively removed, then working on
benzoyl peroxide is a potent compoundrelieving the social anxiety can begin.
and people with sensitive skin can



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