Is There an Acne Cure?

There are all sorts of lotions, gels, pills, and herbal potions that are advertised as a cure for acne. Arguably, however, there is no real "cure" for acne, only ways to treat it. For some, the problem is pervasive and difficult to treat. For others, simple treatments do the trick.

When you do go to a dermatologist for acne, the recommendations are likely to range from antibiotics to Accutane (isotretinoin), a form of Vitamin A. While these treatments may be successful to some extent, they also come with some side effects. Accutane, for example, presents a danger to the babies of pregnant women, and any woman taking it must have regular pregnancy screenings.

Some medical experts say one of the very best treatments for adult acne has actually been around for years — benzoyl peroxide. In fact, it is the main ingredient in Proactiv® and Murad® as well as many over-the-counter treatments like Clearasil®. While benzoyl peroxide has its fans, there can be some downsides to using it. Even the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) assigned it a rating of "safety unknown." If used regularly, it will irritate the skin which is actually its purpose. But in some cases it can inflame the skin, causing it to peel. In the worst cases, it may result in blisters, crusting, swelling, splotching, or even severe burning.

Acne sufferers have also reported enormous breakout relief from some natural and kitchen food items. Baking soda, a cheap ingredient that you probably already have in your home, is currently making the rounds as a miracle acne cure. You can make a paste with water, and use it as a facial mask for five to ten minutes, and then wash it off. Another popular item is apple cider vinegar. Dilute the vinegar on a cotton ball with eight parts water to one part vinegar. Apply it to the infected areas and then let it dry.

Egg whites can also be used as a mask. Just apply it to the skin and leave it on for about 15 minutes and then rinse it off. People who suffer with acne also rave about aloe vera juice, oatmeal, tee tree oil, and pantothenic acid, also known as Vitamin B5.

While there is no foolproof acne cure, there are many treatment options. In addition, there is no single cure that works for all acne sufferers. The real solution comes after some personal exploration to find out which is the acne cure that will work for you.