Looking for a clear skin treatment for acne-prone and blemished skin? First, you’ll need to determine what kind of breakouts you’re having.  If it’s a severe acne breakout, we highly recommend bringing it to a dermatologist.  More likely than not, you’ll need that much extra care that regular topical applications can’t provide.

Mild Acne

If you only notice a few bumps, along with some whiteheads and blackheads, you have a mild acne condition.  As a clear skin treatment, look towards regular exfoliation using a salicylic acid-based product.

Additionally, here is a daily regimen you may want to follow:

• Morning Wash: light foaming cleanser
• Toning: Salycylic-acid based toner
• Evening Wash: light foaming cleanser
• Night Application: 5% Benzoyl Peroxide

Moderate Acne

Moderate acne breakouts are characterized by more frequent dome-shaped lesions, along with a good heaping of blackheads and whiteheads.  For a start, you will want to try the same clear skin treatment regimen used for mild acne.  If it doesn’t work, try seeing a dermatologist.  Most likely, you’ll be prescribed an oral antibiotic, along with stronger topical substances.  While some doctors may suggest non-invasive clinical clear skin treatments, such as lasers, it’s usually prudent to try medicating first and see how it works out.

Do you have oily skin?  If you’re not sure, check whether your skin exhibits the following features:

• large pores
• regular acne breakouts (including blackheads and whiteheads)
• shiny skin surface
• acne breakouts on other areas of the body, including the back, chest and shoulders

For some people, oily skin is a temporary condition.  Many grow out of it, no longer requiring oily skin treatments, as soon as their teenage years pass, while most eventually find it gone by the time they’re in their early twenties.  There are others, though, for whom the affliction remains well into their later years.

When you have oily skin, taking care of your skin is paramount, as many behaviors resulting from the condition can actually aggravate skin problems.  To make sure you’re looking after your oily skin the right way, be sure to follow these oily skin treatment guidelines:

1. If you have acne, avoid picking on it.  Doing so only brings more bacteria to your face, leaving it worse for wear.

2. Use blotting sheets as your oily skin treatment to reduce excess shine.  Be careful about using it when not needed, though – you don’t want to strip your skin dry of necessary moisture.

3. When cleaning your face, always prefer an alcohol-free, gel-based oily skin treatment wash.

4. Even those with oily skin can use a moisturizer, especially one with at least SPF 15 sun protection.  Just make sure to get one specifically intended as an oily skin treatment.

When you’re experiencing acne breakouts, it doesn’t mean you have to put a stop to using beauty skin care products.  Even though some of those products may be directly related to your breakouts, it doesn’t mean you have to put a halt to your regular skin care regimen.  Instead, take the breakouts as a sign that you need to shift your treatment to something that provides better care for your skin.

If you’ve been using a cleanser and toner religiously, it may be time to reconsider these beauty skin care products’ formulation.  With breakouts in place, it’s more than likely that they are either irritating your skin or eroding precious chemicals that serve to protect you from damaging conditions.

The same holds true with your moisturizer and other beauty skin care products.  While good for your skin, some brands may contain ingredients that react unfavorably to your skin and the conditions it is regularly exposed to.  Chances are that you’ll need to ditch most cream-based products and opt for water-based gels.

Apart from reconsidering your beauty skin care products for daily use, you’ll also need to treat the breakouts with the right anti-acne aids.  For light acne,  consider using benzoyl peroxide (to dry the lesions and kill bacteria) or salicylic acid (to opn up clogged follicles).  For more moderate to severe breakouts, especially with large inflammations, most doctors will prescribe either an oral or topical antibiotic, along with tretinoin treatment.

There’s no need to ditch beauty skin care products for good when you experience acne breakouts.  It may be time, however, to look for a new set of them.

Accutane, much like retinoids, is a vitamin A derivative and continues to be the most popular acne skin treatment for severe cases.  While Accutane was the original brand, various generic versions have cropped up.  You can either request those cheaper variants from your doctor or stick to the original.  Personally, I feel more comfortable with the tried and tested Accutane, which has received years upon years of extensive trials and monitoring.

The safety of Accutane has been put into question lately and for good reason – the drug admittedly does have side effects.  Taken under the strict monitoring of a physician, however, it should be as safe as most other prescription acne skin treatments.

Ask any dermatologist about their experience with Accutane and majority will return with tale after tale of patients who have enjoyed amazing transformations under its care.  As such, it has been a favored acne skin treatment, especially for cases of lesions that are likely to produce deep scarring.

If you are considering Accutane or any of the generic acne skin treatments that mimic its effects, you will need to have a serious discussion with your dermatologist so you can be aware of the associated risks.  More than ever, the importance of keeping your appointments is crucial so that any adverse effects can easily be diagnosed.

While most of the anti-acne products you see in shopping aisles are topical-based, the most popular form of acne skin treatments are actually oral antibiotics.   These ingested medications work to kill the bacteria usually found in acne lesions, leading to faster healing and preventing further infections.

In Low Doses

Typically, antibiotic-based acne skin treatments use normal doses of potency.  Some modern variants even use smaller amounts  to avoid potential side effects commonly associated with these types of treatments.

Antibiotic For Acne

Tetracycline is the most popular type of antibiotic for acne skin treatment.  It’s the one product that’s been used for decades due to its potential for long-term use while creating minimal side effects.  Other popular antibiotics that your dermatologist may try prescribing include:

• minocycline (may cause side effects such as skin discoloration and headaches)
• doxycycline (not prescribed for those who spend extended time outdoors)
• erythromycin
• sulfa-based antibiotics

Topical Acne Skin Treatments

Most dermatologists will prescribe topical treatments to go along with antibiotic use, especially those designed to dry lesions.  While you can go with a pure oral treatment, things usually progress better when you combine it with spot medication to work directly on the skin.