by FranLl

Created on: November 24, 2010

From Accutane to Stridex, an overwhelming alphabet of topical anti-acne treatments exist.  How do we know which ones work? These cleansers, creams, gels, and ointments usually work against mild to moderate acne like blackheads, whiteheads, and pimples. They do this by either eliminating pore blockages (comedolytic) or the bacteria that thrive inside pimples (antibacterial/antibiotic). Here’s a rundown of the different topical treatment options to every zit and pimple sufferer:

*Azelaic acid*

Azelaic acid can both kill bacteria that thrive in acne as well as manage the shedding of dead skin cells from the pore, making it an ideal topical anti-acne treatment. It has the added benefit of inhibiting pigment production to make acne “scars” appear lighter. It can be effective against mild to moderate acne. Azelex, Aziderm, Azaline, and Adarerin are some topical preparations with azelaic acid.

*Benzoyl Peroxide*

Benzoyl peroxide effectively penetrates the pores and kills the bacteria that thrive in acne. It does this by introducing oxygen to the anaerobic acne bacteria Proprionobacterium acnes, which cannot live in the presence of oxygen. With the bacteria dead, pimples become less inflamed and improve in appearance. Secondarily, benzoyl peroxide can also help get rid of dead skin cells to prevent pore blockages.  A lot of over-the-counter anti-acne products contain benzoyl peroxide as their main ingredient, among them Clearasil and ProActiv

*Retinoids*

Retinoids are compounds that are chemically related and similar to Vitamin A. The most popular retinoid is tretinoin or retinoic acid. It is believed to be the most effective topical comedolytic treatment against acne. It clears up blocked pores by speeding up how cells are sloughed off the skin, promoting the exfoliation of dead skin cells. It can also reduce the inflammation of ruptured or pus-filled pimples. Tretionoin also has the added benefit of lightening pimple “scars” in darker-skinned people. The downside to this compound is that it can cause peeling and dryness on the skin. You should also not expose your skin to the sun if you are using this compound. Commercial preparations of tretinoin include Accutane, and Retin-A. Adapalene (Differin) is a third-generation retinoid that acts similar to tretinoin by clearing up pore blockages and relieving pimple inflammation. There are also topical isotretinoin gels that act similar to tretinoin.

*Salicyclic Acid*

Salicyclic acid

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