Acne cream is part of the face cleansing acne treatment and as such is a member of the trilogy of treatment we discuss for acne treatment: Sleep, diet and washing. In a word, health. One method to cure acne is by washing your face and applying acne cream to moisturize the skin. These creams contain oils that seal the pores and enhance its effects on the face. But what are the types of acne cream and oils you can use to get rid of the pimples? Let's find out.

Choosing an Acne face cream, hang on before we do choose the right cream we better talk about how to choose the right cream for you. Let's look at what we need the cream to do for us. Once we know what we need we can build a set of criteria. Actions required of an acne cream include, kill acne bacteria, unclog blocked pores, renew skin, dry sebum, regulate sebum, normalize skin, reduce inflammation, stimulate healthy tissue growth, even skin tone.

When attempting to kill acne or pimple bacteria, face creams are certainly a viable option and have some situational benefits over oral medication. One of the most common active ingredients is benzoyl peroxide. Since this is a bleach like agent that kill the bacteria P. acnes there will be no bacterial resistance built up against it. However bleach can be harsh on the skin if overused and can bleach any hear or clothes on contact. On the plus side topical treatments can be used simultaneously with other oral medication without fear of side effects. As a general rule, other topical medications should not be used simultaneously without consulting a professional.

Unclog pores. I would like to take a brief look at this important component of those written above as it at the heart of curing acne. At the risk of repeating my articles gone before, pores are tiny holes in the surface of the skin. These holes are visible to the naked eye when we look in the mirror. Our body created these holes for a reason and that reason is very simple, they allow the skin to perspire and the sebum glands to release sebum, Sebum in turn keep the skin moist and waterproof. In my first article on the basics of acne I discussed the pores and likened the exterior of the pores to funnels. It is these funnels that when blocked form acne, blackheads and pimples. Therefore it is very important we unplug pores and keep them clean and empty. No blockages means no acne. Once again it's that simple. So how can we keep the pores / funnels empty? Washing and creams. Wash the face gently, do not scrub. Apply a cream that clearly states it supports keeping the pores clean. Use and astringent sparingly as well. Astringent will sting a little when applied but this is normal. (if it hurts stop) astringent will swell the pores ever so slightly and this in turn will shrink the size of the funnels and reduce that amount of gunk that can be trapped within.

Sebum is the natural oil that builds up in your skin and cause pore clogging. If Sebum is trapped in the skin it can cause the phenomenon know as black heads. It's not something that you would want to completely remove from the skin. That would cause severe dryness, damaging the skin overall. However, sebum must be managed and that means removing it when it is in excess and not allowing it to be trapped in the skin to dry out and form black heads, pimples or acne. A cream that exfoliates and opens pores would be helpful here as it would serve both purposes.

This same type of cream will often "normalize" the skin, giving it a more even tone and look. Creams utilize anything from zinc oxide to natural herbs such as thyme to accomplish this. It is important to note that while this is an important effect for someone who is looking to affect their physical appearance, it is not necessarily focused on clearing up the afflicting acne. If it's the case that you find a product that will smooth and normalize your skin, but doesn't affect your acne or is perhaps not strong enough for your particular case consider going with a more appropriate product that forgoes this pleasantry. On the other hand, if you are choosing between two similar products and one will heal your skin tone at the same time as treat your acne defiantly go with the one that will treat your skin as well. In truth most people are indeed interested in clearing their acne because of the physical appearance, why not treat your skin at the same time!

Reduce inflammation. Sometimes a skin product can have harsh effects on our skin that we did not intend. If you skin is sensitive or allergic be sure to use a cream that has only a low concentration of the active ingredient. As a common theme acne creams often contain agents to dry out the skin and at the same time an agent to kill bacteria for lasting relief from acne. Be sure that there are moisturizing agents present to counteract the effect this will have on your otherwise healthy skin. This way, the cream can exfoliate and attack harmful bacteria freely. If the cream itself does not offer this protection it is a very good idea to find a moisturizer that compliments the acne cream you are using. Mixing products can be very dangerous so be sure to ask your pharmacist about compatibility before using two products simultaneously.

Another important factor to look for is whether the cream promotes healthy tissue growth or not. The acne itself is a problem right now, but what will it look like when it clears up? Acne can lead to scarring, severe in some cases. This is especially true in cases where the infection is mistreated or treated harshly. Part of the body's natural response to injury is to inflame the area and send antibodies to combat the pain and infection. The more severe this reaction is, the more difficult it is for healthy tissue to emerge and scar tissue is the result. For this reason a cream that will reduce the inflammation is best. Cortisone can help in this respect. In severe cases cortisone is injected directly into the pimple for an immediate reduction in swelling and inflammation. Sometimes cortisone can cause a whitening of the skin but the point is that the inflammations is reduced.

There are many facial creams available in the market that has great effects on the skin. Come of these creams contain allantoin as the active ingredient, which helps clean the skin pores. For example, Scotty's face cream uses allantoin. It also has oils as well as vitamin A and E which helps nourish the skin and makes the skin more revitalize. The best frequency for applying this cream is 2-3 times a day. You can apply it in a clean face every morning and before you sleep. When you apply this cream, you will notice that there is a tingling sensation in areas without sores and sting in open pores.

Another common ingredient found in facial creams intended to treat acne is benzoyl peroxide. As the name suggests it is acidic and can kill the bacteria which causes acne. This medication can take anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks to completely clear and acne infection and is often recommended to use for a full 8 weeks to be sure an infection is cleared. End the treatment prematurely can (ad in most cases will) cause the treatment to fail. Since acne is caused by bacteria deep in the skin, it is necessary to continue applying the cream until the infection itself is truly eradicated, not just the physical symptoms. It can be truly frustrating to spend weeks treating your affliction, succeeding in clearing it up visually, only to have it return full swing soon after. As always, be sure to follow any instructions on the product explicitly and if anything unexpected arises consult your physician or dermatologist.

Besides the cream, you can also add organic oils to make the cream more potent on the skin. You can use tea tree oil. It acts as an antiseptic, antifungal and antibacterial substance. This oil has been proven effective for skin disorders. It helps nourish the skin by bringing oxygen to the cells, which eventually kills bacteria and fungus. Thus, it will help in repairing the skin damage. Borage oil, another type of oil, contains EPA and DHA which helps control the excessive production of sebum (oil). Instead of Borage oil, you can also use the alternative. The Neptune Krill Oil works like the Borage oil but it has an additional component which is the Omega-3. You can also store the NKO in a cool temperature storage place as compared to the Borage oil which should be placed in the refrigerator. You can mix 5-10 drops of these oils to your facial cream.

If you have scars because of your pimples, you can use scar removal creams that are also available in the market. Read the instructions before applying it on your skin.

These are some of the remedies (creams) you can use to cure your acne. But always remember to consult your doctor before you apply this cream on your face. Your skin type as well as your sensitivity are two factors that would contribute to the success of your treatment. If you have high sensitivity, you should use a lower concentration. If you have an oily skin, maybe you will prefer that you use gels rather than creams.

So you know what your acne cream should be doing for you but what ingredients should you be keeping an eye out for when you go shopping for it? Most acne products will vary in description and percentage of the individual ingredients that it lists on the label. Some products may focus more on natural ingredients than medicinal ones. But in the end, a good majority of them that produce successful results contain a lot of common ingredients. What you will need to do is choose a product that has been designed to work for your particular skin type and acne condition. Make sure that you take the time to read the label to see if the acne cream is right for you. There are also many sites which provide reviews on products from actual customers. I find those the most helpful because the people reviewing the products are usually very blunt and honest in their findings. You can also ask your own questions in forums specializing in acne to get advice and share opinions. Check out one of the provided links to browse through one of those forums now!

And just to be safe... before you go ahead and cover your face with that cream, you should always do a patch test first. This is very quick and simple and you'll thank yourself later if you discover that the cream irritates your skin. Simply take a small portion of the cream and apply it to a very small area of your face. Usually close to the ears is good because it's not going to be too blaringly noticeable if you break out into a rash afterwards. After applying the cream, wait 24 hours and check for any signs of an allergic reaction. If you don't have any, then the cream is safe to use on your entire face.

There are a lot of acne products on the market right now, more than I can count. You have your over-the-counter brands which pop up in the commercials in between your favorite TV programs, and then you have your natural products that you can pick up in a health or nature store, or countless new brands that are available through the Internet. If all else fails, you can visit a dermatologist to see if they can prescribe a cream that has little or no side effects and is gentle on your skin.

Some of the more popular acne creams that contain helpful acne-fighting ingredients like benzoyl peroxide include; Clearasil, oxy, and Proactive Solution. There are many more but you would need to actually check the ingredients of major products and compare percentages to see which one you would be most comfortable trying out. Just keep in mind that over-the-counter brands have lower percentages of benzoyl peroxide so you won't experience any of the long term side effects that you would with a higher dosage that would need to be prescribed by a dermatologist. So long as you're aware of your options and the pros and cons of any of these acne creams, you should be able to choose one much easier and with a lot more confidence.