Acne Solutions
Clear Skin All the Time
From the time Michelle Rodgriguez was thirteen years old she could remember dealing with acne. A slave to over-the-counter-products such as Oxy 10; she rarely seemed to get past the breaking out stage. Frustrated, she took matters into her own hands and saw a dermatologist. "He prescribed Tetracylcine, an oral antibiotic, Sal-Ac, a facial wash, and a topical treatment of Benyzmacin," says Rodriguez, now 36. She also used a daily application of a low dosage of hydroquione clarifying cream to remove hyperpigmentation caused by the acne inflammation. Within a month her blemishes and dark spots cleared away, leaving no trace that she ever had a problem.What causes an acne onset? In the case of Rodriguez, it was a combination of hormonal and dietary issues. "The more I ate green, leafy vegetables, the less I broke out," she recalls. But sometimes that's just not enough. Acne is primarily caused by an overproduction of sebum or oil that clogs the skin's glands. "Any hormonal changes, such as those caused by extreme exercise, stress, birth control pills and pregnancy, can cause acne," notes New York City dermatologist Dr. Mark Kaufman. The external fix? "Benzoyl peroxide is the gold standard for acne treatments," notes Dr. Kaufman of the topical antiseptic that works to kill bacteria and unclog pores. Dr. Kaufman suggests starting with a 5% dose and increasing to 10% if you don't see results after a few weeks. For mild breakouts, look for products with at least 2% salicylic acid but "before you deal with discoloration, take care of acne first," he advises. If you prefer the natural route, then select products made with plive leaf, tea tree oil, licorice root, chamommile or green tea as they too help to regulate sebum and reduce inflammation. No matter which products you choose, the routine is the same: cleanse, unclog and treat. We rounded up our favorite over-the-counter and department store cleansers, creams, kits and spot treatments to help you keep your complexion bright and tight.—Mia Stokes
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