Natural Acne Treatment – Features and Types

If you suffer from recurrent acne, you may want to ask yourself: are you better off with a chemical acne treatment or a natural acne treatment? This is not as dramatic a dichotomy as you might think, as both methods have their merits, and in fact, using a natural acne treatment does not preclude the use of chemical acne treatments.  Learn a little more about both the chemical and natural acne treatment and see what seems right for you.

Natural Acne Treatment

Natural acne treatments include using natural soap and water to clean and hydrate the skin, natural exfoliants to remove dead skin and other debris that may lead to acne, and steam massages for the skin to slough off the top layer of skin and to open up the pores. When done correctly, these methods can be safe and good for your skin. The main problem lies in their effectiveness. Acne is caused not just by sebum, dead skin cells, dirt and oil but by Propionibacterium Acnes, a slowly developing, anaerobic bacterium. Powerful bacteria often do not respond to simple, natural treatments. By all means, try natural acne treatment for your skin, but if you are still seeing acne outbreaks, you may need to resort to chemical methods.

Chemical Acne Treatment

There are a number of chemical alternatives to natural acne treatment, from chemically treated masks, to pills designed to flush out the skin, to strong prescription medications. One of the most popular chemical compounds when it comes to treating acne, however, is benzoyl peroxide. Benzoyl peroxide is not only almost entirely safe when used in the right concentrations and formulations, but can often be highly effective in treating acne without harsh side effects. The big issue for most people who would prefer a natural acne treatment is that they may be afraid that chemical treatments will do long term damage to their skin. This is why if you are using benzoyl peroxide, you should use it as part of a dermatologist approved acne control system that includes complete skin care. This means using a system with a cleanser to keep the skin free of acne causing products, humectants or a similar formulation that will keep the skin hydrated and a sun protectant, along with the benzoyl peroxide formulation. This will give you the best chance to clear up your skin while keeping the skin healthy and vibrant for years to come.

Notes on Chemical and Natural Acne Treatment

As you can see, you really don’t have to make a choice between natural and chemical treatment. You are free to regularly wash with natural soap and water, to exfoliate and otherwise to care for your skin while participating in a chemical acne treatment regimen. You should take care to use products as directed so the treatments do not interfere, and you should always consult with a dermatologist before beginning a chemical acne treatment regimen, but if you follow the procedures, you have an excellent chance of seeing great results for your skin.