The Most Effective Ingredients For Treating Acne

Acne is a common skin disorder that affects teens primarily, but it can affect adults as well. Acne is a result of sebum, an oily substance produced by the body’s sebaceous glands, clogging pores. Acne affects the face, chest, back, and upper neck primarily because those areas have more pores. Each pore consists of a hair follicle, hair and a sebaceous gland. The sebaceous gland produces sebum, which helps protect the skin and hair and makes them waterproof. During puberty, the sebaceous glands enlarge, causing them to produce more sebum.

Throughout puberty, more of a hormone called androgen is produced and androgen stimulates the enlargement of the sebaceous glands. At around age 20, androgen levels stabilize and the production of sebum decreases. Adult acne is caused by a fluctuation of hormones that normally rise during adolescence, and the fluctuation can occur as a result of pregnancy, stress, and other factors.

Acne occurs when sebum clogs pores, which attracts bacteria to the pore. The bacteria are then attacked by white blood cells, which causes inflammation and swelling. If the clog remains under the skin, a whitehead forms.

If the clog rises above the surface of the skin, a blackhead is formed. These are both types of non-inflammatory acne. Inflammatory acne occurs when a break occurs in the hair follicle wall, or pore. White blood cells gather where the break occurs, causing swelling and inflammation of the pore. This is called a papule. After several days, the white blood cells may rise above the skin’s surface. This causes a pustule, or pimple, to form. Collapsing and bursting of the pore can also occur, causing nodules and cysts.

There are numerous products available without prescriptions that contain effective ingredients for treating acne. Alpha-hydroxy acids, such as glycolic and lactic acid, slough off the dead skin cells that combine with sebum to clog pores.

Sebustop is one of the most promising new ingredients used for treating acne. A very effective extract formula, is a seboregulator developed by Solabia­ Labs that utilizes rhizomes, of several plants combined - poterium officinale, zingiber officinale, and cinnamonum cassia in a preservative free formula. It is excellent at controlling seum and purifying the skin and has a natural antiseptic activity. It can be found in products such as Acnetene.

Benzoyl peroxide is another effective ingredient for treating acne. Benzoyl peroxide is available in cleansers, lotions, and spot treatments, and it kills bacteria and exfoliates dead skin cells. Salicylic acid is another effective acne-fighting ingredient that works by exfoliating inside the hair follicle to prevent clogging.

Tea-tree oil has also been found to be highly effective in treating acne. Tea-tree oil has both anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties that help reduce bacteria and soothe skin.

Zinc, and its derivative Zinc PCA, are also effective ingredients for treating acne. Zinc naturally regulate oil production of the sebaceous glands. Reducing oiliness reduces accumulation of yeast, bacteria, and inhibits infection of sebaceous glands and pores. Typically, Zinc will be found in the best face wash for acne, toners, and even creams.