What Works Best For Acne

Apply A Paste Of Indian Lilac

Indian lilac, also known as neem, can be used for the treatment of various skin problems. It contains antiseptic and antimicrobial properties that help kill the bacteria that cause acne. Also, it soothes the redness and inflammation of skin breakouts.

• Make a paste of tender Indian lilac leaves by adding a little water. Add some turmeric powder to the paste and then apply it on the affected area. Leave it on for 20 minutes and then wash it off. Do this at least twice a week.
• You can also apply neem oil a few times a day until you see improvement.

Best For Sensitive Skin: First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser

It can be hard to find a acne cleanser that isn’t drying, or worse is way too strong for your sensitive skin, causing even more breakouts. Well, bless aloe vera, thats all. Thats the review. No, but really. With its aloe leaf extract, First Aid Beautys Pure Skin Face Cleanser gently cools your face while cleansing.

Consider Your Skin Type Too

We know taking your acne *and* skin type into consideration can be a drag. But if you want to avoid side effects like irritation and peeling, youre gonna want to pay attention to this.

We know its easy to get lost in the sauce with all the billions of acne treatments available. We needed some type of strategy to show you the best ones, heres how we did that.

We considered stuff like:

• Active ingredients. We played favorites with formulas that use well-established, helpful, safe ingredients for addressing acne.
• Skin and zit type. What works for us may not work for you. Thats why taking skin type into account was hella important to us with this roundup. We chatted with the derms about how to let your skin type guide you to the right treatments.
• Reviews. Reviews are king, so we take them seriously. We combed through them carefully, making sure they are legit, and that buyers are truly impressed and not just yanking our chain.
• Price. We give you options. You can choose your acne treatment based on your current budget, or wait and save up for something a little extra next time.

• Prescription: no
• Best for: pimples, blackheads, redness/blotchiness

This gel serum loves to eat up oil without stripping or drying the sh*t out of your skin .

Your skin may take a bit of time to adjust, but reviewers say they see clearer, smoother, and more balanced skin after two or three uses.

• Prescription: no
• Best for: all acne types

• Prescription: no
• Best for: blemishes, blackheads and whiteheads

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How To Find A Personalized Solution To Acne

You may even find an effective treatment outside your medicine cabinet or doctors officemany turn to spearmint tea, a dairy-free diet, or liquid chlorophyll .

If youre feeling unsure about what your skin needs to beat breakouts, talking to a dermatology provider can help. You can get started with one at no extra cost when you start your Curology free trial. Just take a quick skin quiz and snap a few selfies and one of our licensed medical providers will evaluate your skin.

If Curology is right for you, well send you a 30-day supply of your Custom Formula with a mix of active ingredients chosen for your unique skin concerns, plus any of our recommended products, for freejust pay $4.95 to cover shipping and handling. Subject to consultation. Subscription is required.

Our medical review process:Our policy on product links:

What Are The Best Ingredients For Acne

The dermatologists we spoke to highlighted four key ingredients to help fight acne: salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, adapalene and azelaic acid. These are available as prescriptions for more stubborn acne, but there are plenty of over-the-counter products that offer these ingredients at a lower dosage.

Other acne-fighting ingredients found in OTC products include alpha hydroxy acids and beta hydroxy acids . These compounds can help with clogged pores like blackheads and can cause the top layer of dead skin cells to shed, according to Dr. , a board-certified dermatologist and associate professor at NYU Langone Healths Department of Dermatology. However, experts agreed you should consult your dermatologist to see what works best for your skin and wont cause irritation .

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Moisturize With Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is a tropical plant whose leaves produce a clear gel. The gel is often added to lotions, creams, ointments, and soaps.

Its commonly used to treat abrasions, rashes, burns, and other skin conditions. When applied to the skin, aloe vera gel can help heal wounds, treat burns, and fight inflammation .

Aloe vera contains salicylic acid and sulfur, which are both used extensively in the treatment of acne. Research has found that applying salicylic acid to the skin reduces acne (

While research shows promise, the anti-acne benefits of aloe vera itself require further scientific research.

Acne Treatments That Really Work According To Dermatologists

When it comes to finding the right acne treatments, there are a million products out thereand theyre not all created equal. From acne washes to creams and spot treatments, the options can be overwhelming, making it impossible to tell which is truly the best acne treatment for you.

Even more frustrating? The fact that were still dealing with acne at all. Seriously, we thought the breakouts would be over soon after AP Calculus. But adult acne is a thing, and its actually something that can affect people in their 20s and 30s, and even well past their 50s.

And if you thought blackheads and whiteheads were annoying, the deep painful pimples that often pop up in adult acne are much more aggravatingand harder to get rid of. We talked to dermatologists to find out which acne treatments are the most effective on all types of pimples. Keep reading to learn what causes acne in the first place, plus the best acne treatments and acne medications worth spending your hard-earned dollars on.

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What Ingredients Should You Look For To Treat Acne

Retinoids: Birnbaum calls retinoids the holy grail of acne treatment because theyre backed by years of scientific studies that show they really work. She says that retinoids increase skin cell turnover, help unclog pores and decrease inflammation, to improve inflammatory acne. Love also shares that retinoids help normalize pigment production, which is good for people who get dark spots after a breakout. Love recommends starting it in your routine two to three times a week and slowly building up because retinoids can cause dryness and flakiness. If youre looking for a gentle retinoid, she recommends you consider adapalene. Our experts share that retinoids make skin more sensitive to sun, so make sure to wear SPF, but they are best used at night anyway.

Benzoyl peroxide: Benzoyl peroxide is one of Loves favorite over-the-counter acne solutions because its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and it helps decrease the oiliness of the skin, making it great to treat all types of acne. Our other experts certainly agree Birnbaum notes that you should use benzoyl peroxide at a different time of day as your retinoid, because it can make the retinoid less effective. Love explains that adapalene, however, is safe to use with benzoyl peroxide, unlike other retinoids.

Sulfur: Lastly, Love explains that sulfur is great for inflammatory acne. Better yet: This ingredient is also safe for those who are pregnant and nursing.

What Not To Do To Get Rid Of A Pimple

You can watch pimple popping videos on the internet to your hearts content, but Dr. Khetarpal recommends against trying it in real life.

Any manipulation of a pimple can lead to more inflammation, which can increase the risk of scarring, she explains. And your hands are dirty, so youre going to introduce more bacteria and potentially make it worse.

Your best bet is to spot treat the pimple with benzoyl peroxide and then leave it alone.

Wearing makeup and covering it up is not a problem, but dont poke or pick or squeeze it, Dr. Khetarpal suggests. It will resolve on its own.

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Best Gel Moisturizer: Clinique Acne Solutions Clinical Clearing Gel

This salicylic acid acne treatment has been a fan favorite for years and guess what: It’s still available and still highly effective. Depending on your skins needs, you can apply a thin layer twice a day after you cleanse your skin, or if you already use an all-over acne treatment, you can use it as a spot treatment on particularly stubborn zits. The ultra-simple formula is hypoallergenic as well as fragrance-, oil- and paraben-free. Win, win, win.

Are There Any Other Treatments I Should Consider

Dermatologists have a wide range of prescription options at their disposal, including stronger versions of retinoids, adapalene, and benzoyl peroxide, along with topical antibiotics, according to Evans.

What were trying to say is: Dont be afraid to go to the derm. If youre trying to decide whether you should, then the answer is probably Yes, you should.

Persistent acne can be hard to deal with, but a derm is an invaluable resource. They can do waaaay more than just write you a prescription. They know all the ins and outs of a good skin care routine, how your lifestyle affects acne, and more.

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Supplements For Hormonal Acne

Fluctuations in hormone levels can trigger an acne breakout, typically during puberty, pregnancy and menopause. Researchers also implicate birth control medication in adult acne. Certain supplements are more effective than others at alleviating hormonal acne, including:

Zinc

A micronutrient essential for healthy skin function, zinc supplements inhibit inflammation and have an antibacterial effect on the bacteria that causes pimples. It also reduces dihydrotestosterone production, which can block pores and boost inflammation.

Probiotics

Unhealthy gut flora has been linked to a range of skin conditions, including acne. Probiotic supplements assist in the formation of a healthy gut microbiome. Research suggests that probiotics can reduce the inflammation associated with hormonal acne because it helps process and eliminate excess oestrogen.

Maca root

A herbaceous plant known to stabilize hormones, maca root acts as an adaptogen to reduce stress and adrenal fatigue. It helps establish endocrine balance and regulate the hormones that trigger acne breakouts.

Supplements For Acne Scars

Anti-inflammatory vitamin C supplements can promote wound healing and prevent post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, or skin discolorations that result from inflammatory acne.

Studies show that vitamin C supplements can also play an active role in reducing Propionibacterium acnes , the bacteria that causes acne, so they can both target the causes of acne and reduce scarring.

Vitamin E supplements are popularly associated with wound healing, and research shows it does have sun protective and skin barrier stabilizing properties. However, scientific evidence for vitamin Es efficacy in reducing scarring is still lacking.

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Best Body Lotion: Ncessaire Body Lotion

Get ready to lather up and give your skin the radiant and healthy glow its always wanted. Ideal for moisturizing, toning, and strengthening the skin, Nécessaires Body Lotion is jam packed with all the best ingredients including antioxidants, Vitamin A, Vitamin B, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Omega-6, and Omega-9. Providing lots of hydration while still soaking in quickly, this fragrance-free product is our new go-to body lotion. It also contains Niacinamide, which is seriously the holy grail when it comes to skincare ingredients, known to help with uneven skin tone, dull skin and repair irritated and damaged skin. Is there anything it can’t do? And, did we mention that it also contains luxe oils but wont leave an oily residue? Its simply perfect. Plus, we get enough of its minimal packaging design.

Best For Spot Treatment Reader’s Choice: Mario Badescu Drying Lotion

I first found out about Mario Badescus products when my skincare obsessed friend decided to ditch me and move across the country to Los Angeles. Lucky for me, she decided to leave some of her precious beauty products behind including this drying lotion, which is a fast acting acne spot treatment. No matter what skin type you have we recommend putting it on a pesky blemish before bed and letting the product work its magic while you get your beauty sleep. Dont be surprised to wake up in the morning refreshed and whitehead free!

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Find The Best Ingredients For Your Acne Type

When it comes to over-the-counter products plus a couple of prescription options we snuck in here these are the ingredients that are most effective for mild to manageable acne breakouts.

tl dr: Most ingredients aim to kill bacteria and clear up pesky dead skin cells, but your mileage may vary depending on the ingredient. Plus, your skin type will dictate which to choose to help you avoid harsh side effects like dryness or excess oil.

Some Precautions When Using Essential Oils For Acne

Essentials oils can be used by most people to treat acne and prevent outbreaks. However, care should be taken by some people when using essential oils.

• Always try a small amount of oil on the inside of your forearm and observe the reaction to make sure you are not allergic to this oil.
• Children and pregnant women should consult with their doctor before using essential oils on their skin.
• Find out in advance about the potency of the essential oils you plan to use.
• Some people notice a reduction in the number of pimples very quickly. However depending on your skin type and severity of your acne, it may take some time before you notice any results. So, be patient and try a combination of different essential oils for acne to find the perfect balance for your skin.
• Some essential oils are phototoxic which mean that they can damage the skin with sun exposure. Make sure to apply a sunscreen before exposing your skin to the sun.

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The Best Ingredients To Treat Acne:

From oral antibiotics to over-the-counter creams, gels and face washes, there are so many different options available to treat acne. Most mild, non-hormonal cases of acne can be cleared using OTC products, according to Angela Lamb, a dermatologist at Mount Sinai. These typically include acne-busting ingredients such as:

Apply A Speck Of Toothpaste

The toothpaste that you use regularly to clean your teeth can also help clear up an acne problem. This is, in fact, one of the easiest home remedies for acne. The toothpaste will reduce the swelling and dry out the acne.

• Apply a small amount of white toothpaste on the affected area before going to bed. if you have somewhat sensitive skin then you can rinse it off after 5 minutes, else you can leave it on overnight. Within a day or two, you should see significant improvement.

Note

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Best Mask: Higher Education Study Buddy

Sometimes you just want a product that tackles your T-zone and truly delivers. Thats where Higher Education’s Study Buddy Clarifying and Brightening Mask comes into the picture. Dont worry you dont actually have to be studying to apply this mask. You can do so while binge-watching your favorite series or while treating yourself to some take outor both. Simply apply on your T-zone, or all over your face depending on your skin situation, when youre feeling extra dry, massage it in, and rinse off with lukewarm water. Not only will you see an improvement in your skin , but youre also supporting a cruelty-free, vegan brand.

Best For Hyperpigmentation : Allies Of Skin Mandelic Pigmentation Corrector Night Serum

Dark spots can really ruin the mood. When you think you finally got rid of a pimple, but a ha it actually turns into a dark spot. Or, even when you think you’ve beat your face to the gods, and a ha a dark spot and you don’t have the right concealer. It sucks because you never know when their coming, literally the adult version of the boogeyman. Thanks to science, there are some ingredients that can help, like this serum from Allies of Skin. We admit $92 is a steep price, but when getting rid of those pesky dark spots, sometimes investment is key. This serum contains all of the acids: mandelic, lactic and salicylic Acid, which all help with pigmentation and uneven tone by brightening the skin. There’s also hyaluronic acid and niacinamide which helps to moisturize and soothe the skin, because too many acids can really be too much.

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How Do I Find The Good Stuff

Antibacterial medications are by prescription, but you should know your stuff before speaking to your doctor.

You want to be informed and choose your product wisely to make it a one-and-done deal especially with how strong these products are, and the negative side-effects extended use can have. Because these medications alter some good bacteria in addition to bad, some common side-effects although far from universal are upset stomach and digestive issues. You might also experience heightened susceptibility to sunburn.