Acne is one of the more common skin problems often faced by teenagers and young adults. Acne has nothing to do with age and it has been estimated that there are about 85% young people being affected by acne in one way or another in their life. Although acne affects older people also, it is not as severe as when compared to younger people because younger people tend to go through a lot of hormonal changes during their puberty years. Acne not only affects a person physically, but it can also affect a person's self image, confidence, as well as well-being.

What Causes Acne

The most common areas that are prone to acne are the face, neck and back. Most acne are caused by a type of bacteria known as P. acne. This bacteria thrives on oily skin of the people with acne making the skin incites the release of white blood cells that attack these bacteria, thus making the skin area practically a war zone. To protect themselves and to counter the attack of the white blood cells, these bacteria produce certain types of enzymes. It is these enzymes that convert the sebum of the skin into free fatty acids which then make the skin inflamed.

There are many forms of treatments that can be used to treat acne. For acne treatments to work, it has to interfere directly with what is causing the developments of acne. There are also many treatments that can be used to control breakouts, but the most common and effective treatment one can find around easily is over-the-counter acne products that contain benzoyl peroxide as the main ingredient. Benzoyl peroxide is a chemical that is especially effective in treating acne. It is most commonly available in the form of acne creams and contain about 5% to 10% benzoyl peroxide ingredient. When used well during early treatment, the effectiveness can be maximized and also help prevent scarring once the acne is treated.  Visit Benzoyl peroxide for acne to find out more about the effects of benzoyl peroxide on skin.

As acne is also considered a medical condition, it is not uncommon to see that dermatologist also prescribes antibiotics for acne sufferers too. Antibiotics are usually given to patients with more severe acne conditions. The antibiotics is prescribed with the aim of reducing the number of bacteria that thrives on the affected skin area, particularly around the follicle. As the number of bacteria decreases, so does the amount of fatty acids released. Hence, helping reducing the inflammatory of the skin. In addition, antibiotics also reduce the chemicals produced by white blood cells which irritates the skins. Common antibiotics prescribed to the patients are Tetracycline, Enythromycin, Doxycycline, Clindamycin and Minocycline.

Eventhough antibiotics used in acne treatments do work wonders, the type of antibiotics given to a patient is usually determined and in accordance with the side effects that each of these antibiotics has. Some side effects may include nausea, stomach upset, skin color changes and so on. However, one known major side effect of the use of these antibiotics is that it increases the risk of candida vaginal yeast infection in women.

Although there are many acne treatments available, it is best that doctor prescribed medication use should not be combined with over-the-counter acne medications unless directed by a dermatologist or medical doctor as they may give rise to further side effects or other unforeseen circumstances. If acne develops on a baby's skin, it is best to seek medical practitionals advice for acne treatments.