The Common Treatments for Acne

The skin is often looked at by people as an outward sign of a person's hygiene and health. Subconsciously, human beings tend to associate smooth, clear skin with being in good physical condition. Good skin is also perceived as one of the most obvious signs of physical beauty.

The preoccupation with skin care has led to a boom in the skin care product industry. These skin care products are marketed to cater to the large market that demands a variety of preparations to treat dry skin, control oily skin, and even to “reverse” the aging process. Today, manufacturers of beauty products have expanded their beauty line to include concoctions to cure skin infections. The products that are usually bought to control skin infections usually include those that are supposed to treat adult acne (acne rosacea) and teenage acne (acne vulgaris). Adult acne and teenage acne are two entirely different things, though most scientists believe the root causes are essentially the same. There are currently no concrete findings on what the ultimate cause of acne is, though most studies point to bacteria being the most prevalent factor in both rosacea and vulgaris problems. The single, definitive cause has yet to be found but the countless studies have shown the medical world that there are a number of possible solutions to both acne rosacea and acne vulgaris. These treatments promise to help alleviate the problem of acne, as well as alleviate the social anxiety that people with severe cases of acne experience.

Skin infections like acne rosacea and teenage acne are typically caused by bacterial infections in the skin. Among the many core ingredients of the medications used to treat acne and similar bacterial infections is benzoyl peroxide. In the case of acne, benzoyl peroxide works by attacking the bacteria, effectively attempting to cut off the acne at the source. However, benzoyl peroxide is a potent compound and people with sensitive skin can develop redness, rashes, and other side effects that can add to one's social anxiety, rather than help relieve it. Medically speaking, adults often find it harder to tolerate benzoyl peroxide, as compared to teenagers. An alternative for acne medication (and the subsequent relief from social anxiety) can come in the form of treatments that make use of salicylic acid.

Salicylic acid works on acne in a different manner from benzoyl peroxide. While the peroxide compound works by targeting the bacterial infections behind acne, salicylic acid functions as an exfoliant. The acid works by peeling away layers of the skin, subsequently also peeling away the acne gradually. The acid is considered to be milder than the peroxide, though it can still have side effects. Additionally, salicylic acid is not as effective an acne treatment option as benzoyl peroxide, simply because it lacks the raw chemical potency of the peroxide.


There are some dermatologists that suggest combination treatments as a way to relieve acne. The approach works by having people apply salicylic acid during the day time, as it is the compound that has a lower chance of inducing side effects. The benzoyl peroxide is then applied at night, before sleeping. This reduces the chances that the side effects would interfere with the patient's daily life, as well as reduce the chances of the peroxide bleaching clothing.

In your typical pharmacy, there are various treatments for acne and other skin infections, and not all of them will contain salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. That doesn't mean that they don't work as well, it's just that they probably work differently from the aforementioned types of treatments. Whether one decides to take an over-the-counter treatment or go for a prescription, the important thing to remember is that once the acne has been effectively removed, then working on relieving the social anxiety can begin.