Acne is a skin condition present in of millions of Americans. Common in the teen years and slowing into young adulthood, acne can be frustrating to treat and has a tendency to appear at the worst time.

A lot of progress has occurred in the last few decades in the area of treating acne. Originally acne treatment consisted of a ‘one size fits all’ approach, which is not always effective because severity of acne and individual skin types vary from person to person.

With the old ‘one size fits all’ approach, too many teens were finding the treatment either didn’t work or was so strong it dried out their skin. Fortunately, advances in technology have allowed a wider range of American teens to find a customizable treatment that doesn’t require a prescription.

Feeling ‘unclear’ about your Skin Type:

Not sure what product is right for you? Fortunately you can research online and find out what acne medication is best for your skin type. This can be especially helpful for those with oily skin; especially if they were unaware they have oily skin.

Variables in that Effect Acne:

You would be surprised how many variables can influence acne. Some examples are:

• Sleep pattern and number of total hours you sleep

• Size of pores (do you have any large pores?)

• Time spent in the sun

• What areas you break out (ex. forehead, cheeks, face, back, arms, etc)

• If you squeeze and pick at red bumps if they don't go away or produce pus?

• If you presently are using an abrasive type scrub?

• If you have taken Accutane in the last 6 months?

What Acne Skin Treatment is Best for You:

Knowing your skin type is essential when it comes to determine what acne skin treatment product types are best for you. Once you have a better idea of your skin type (normal or oily), you can begin to find products that can help treat your acne. It is important to remember that treating acne is not a short term treatment, but a commitment to the wellbeing of your skin. Taking good care of your skin before you break out will greatly impact your skin’s health and overall appearance. To do this, you should consider applying several products to your skin that will focus on performing the following:

• Skin cleanser: It is important to clean deep pores. An extract-glyceride blend cleanser can act as an excellent way to exfoliate.

• Scrub: Having an acne scrub for your body type will help with deeper cleansing

• Moisturize: A step often skipped, especially among boys, is to moisturize the skin.

• Shampoo: A related step to acne skin care is having a proper shampoo. Make sure the shampoo balances to your skin type.

At this point you should have a better understanding of what variables affect acne and what to look for in an acne treatment. Whether you have normal skin or are looking to treat acne with an oily skin acne treatment, there is a solution for you. Treating acne in your teen years can be frustrating, but by knowing what types of products should be used with your skin type and being dedicated to maintaining a regular treatment program, you will greatly improve your skin’s health and appearance.