Light Acne Treatment

Light to moderate acne is easy to treat and usually does not require prescription medication. In most cases, a proactive approach and topical treatment is all it needs to cure it. A healthy and balanced lifestyle is also important to fight against acne and prevent other lesions from appearing. When deciding which light acne treatment is best for you, it is very important to consider your skin type. Treatment made with more alcohol, such as solutions and some gels, are more appropriate for oily skin, while individuals with dry skin benefit more form a cream, ointment or lotion to moisturize it. Most over-the counter light acne treatment products contain benzoyl peroxide, glycolic acid or salicylic acid.

Benzoyl Peroxide

Benzoyl peroxide is the most frequently used ingredient in light acne treatment products. It has an antimicrobial action and fights against P acnes, the bacteria that develops acne. It also decreases the concentration of free-fatty acid, reducing the development of microcomedones. Benzoyl peroxide also has an anti-inflammatory effect. For mild acne, it can be used alone and should be applied daily to the affected skin. Its main side effect is skin irritation, which can be progressively eliminated by frequent application.

Topical retinoids

Topical retinoids are highly effective and have a strong anticomedogenic action. They also have indirect antibacterail activity. The most commonly used medicine that contains topical retinoids is tretinoin. It normalizes the dequamation of follicular epithelium, helps with the drainage of comedones and prevents new ones from developing. It comes in gels, liquid and cream. Topical retinoids should be applied daily before going to bed. Common side effects are dryness and burning, but they can be reduced by applying the treatment to dried skin, just after washing and only in small amounts.

Topical antibiotics

Topical antibiotics applied to skin are an effective light acne treatment, reducing the number of P acnes on the skin surface and within hair follicles. They sometimes have anti-inflammatory effects as well. However, they do not have comedolytic results, so they work best as part of a more complex skin care program. They should be applied twice a day to affected skin surface. The most common types of topical antibiotics used in light acne treatment are clindamycin, salicylic acid, erythromycin, and sulfonamides.

Topical Clindamycin comes as ointment, solution, gel or pads. It helps reduce P acnes and free-fatty acids.

Benzaclin is a combination of topical clidamycin and benzoyl peroxide and gives better results than any of the two alone. It has two be applied to affected skin once or twice a day. Common side effects include dryness and irritation.

Sulfonamides are available in lotions and can be combined with retinoids, oral antibiotics or hormonal therapies to treat more severe acne cases.

Azelaic Acid is helpful for reducing P acnes and fighting against the developing of microcomedones. For light acne treatment, it gives good results even when used alone, but it is more effective as a systemic antibiotic therapy. It has to be applied twice a day.

Light acne can be cured easily and there are a lot of skin care products available on the market that can be used for this purpose. However, light acne should not be ignored or treated poorly, as it can develop in more severe acne forms which may lead to more visible lesions and scarring.