Over the counter acne treatments sometimes have unnatural chemicals that certain people would like to avoid. Instead, these people opt for home remedies, more natural acne treatments. On the other hand there are those who don't believe natural home solutions are effective enough to treat stubborn acne. These people search for more powerful acne medication. Here is some information for you to find out what approach is right for you to become acne free.

At Home Acne Treatments

There are many at home treatments that do actually work and it's a great way to avoid unnatural chemicals often found in pharmaceutical products. Here are some things you can try.

*Use essential oils at night, for example, Tea Tree Oil, Bergamot Oil, Clove Oil, Lavender Oil, and Rosewood Oil. Cleanse your face in the morning with pure soap and water.

*Acne originates within your body, not just at the surface of your skin. Therefore, it is imperative that you drink plenty of water to detoxify your body and clear your skin.

*You can exfoliate and clear pores with an oatmeal mask once or twice a week. Cook oatmeal and while it is still warm, apply to your face, allow oatmeal to dry and then wash away.

There are many at home treatments for acne, some of which work and some which don't work. People, however, with more serious cases of acne, such as cystic acne, often opt for more powerful over the counter acne treatments.

Over the Counter Acne Treatments

Over the counter acne products can be very effective because they target the causes of acne. Some products control inflammation by killing off the bacteria that cause it, Prionibacterium acnes, or P. acnes. Other acne treatments renew skin by speeding up the growth of new skin cells and the removal of dead ones, as well as reducing sebum output. Other products function by using combinations of these things.

Acne medication treatments work in different ways depending on their active ingredient. Here are some common active ingredients that acne products contain.

*Benzoyl Peroxide is very effective as it kills P. acnes as well as removes excess oil and dead skin cells that clog pores. It is available in strengths that come in different percentages depending on the sensitivity of your skin or severity of acne.

*Salicylic Acid prevents pores from clogging by slowing the process of skin cell shed within hair follicles. It also helps fight whiteheads and blackheads.

*Alcohol and acetone come in astringents and cleansers. They cleanse your skin of dirt and oil.

These medications might be more powerful in treating acne but they often come with more side effects such as dryness, sensitivity to sun, stinging or irritation, redness or peeling.

There are many natural options that are now available that give you the opportunity to fight acne with powerful results but without the unnatural chemicals that may cause unwanted side effects. The top acne treatment is an effective and organic acne cream that compromises between home remedies and irritating over the counter products.