Acne is the most common skin disorder treated in the United States, affecting nearly 40 to upwards of 50 million people. While acne is most commonly associated with preteens and teenagers, many adults also have acne and struggle to manage its symptoms.
While the symptoms of acne may manifest differently from patient to patient, common symptoms include seborrhea (scaly, inflamed skin), blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, and even possible scarring. However, perhaps the most devastating effect of acne is psychological, causing low self-esteem and even depression and anxiety as a direct result.
Luckily, however, there are several over the counter and prescription acne treatment products that help to heal blemishes and prevent new ones from forming. The best acne dermatologists urge patients to refrain from picking, popping, or squeezing blemishes as this can lead to permanent scarring. For stubborn or severe cases of acne, it’s recommended to seek treatment from the best dermatologists, who can provide prescription strength acne treatment products.
Regardless of whether you choose to seek professional treatment or use over the counter acne treatments, it’s important to understand your skin type. The best skin care is care that works with, not against, your skin type. Most people assume that acne prone skin is oily. While excess oil can lead to the formation of more blemishes, there are several people who suffer from acne who also have dry or combination skin.
In these instances when skin is both dry and acne prone, it’s best to use medicated acne treatments that treat blemishes while delivering much needed moisture. There are a variety of non-comedogenic medicated moisturizers that are not oil-based, yet still replenish the skin’s natural moisture barrier.
It’s also important to address the root cause of acne. For example, diet and especially stress can play a major role in acne flare ups. While there are several wives tales regarding foods to avoid, eating a balanced, healthy, and natural diet free of processed and genetically modified food can reduce if not help to entirely eliminate acne flare ups. Also, reducing stress can significantly reduce the occurrence of break outs.
