Acne is a very difficult condition and causes a number of problems including pimples, redness, swelling and scars. For teenagers, acne also has the added emotional and psychological issues.

Severe acne can be especially difficult to live with. No matter what you may do, you may always be faced with acne problems. The only way to take care of acne is by finding the best acne treatment for your unique skin type. Consider the various types of over-the-counter and home remedies to find the best acne treatment option for your skin.

While there isn’t a definitive cure for acne, you don’t have to live with the condition. There are over-the-counter acne treatment options that can help you to reduce your acne breakouts. The two most popular over-the-counter acne treatment options today include products made from benzoyl peroxide and those made from salicylic acid.

Benzoyl peroxide is the oldest form of acne treatment available today. Benzoyl peroxide has been around since the thirties and can now be found in a range of acne products from creams to gels and lotions in a wide variety of strengths. Benzoyl peroxide works by drying out the oils on the skin and clear away bacteria found on the surface of the skin. However, benzoyl peroxide also works similar to bleach so you should avoid getting in on your clothing and using too much of it can over dry your skin.

The second most common form of acne treatment today is salicylic acid. This ingredient works to exfoliate the skin, but it can also be irritating for those with dry skin so you need to use it carefully. Salicylic acid should only be used on areas of the skin that are actually suffering from acne breakouts and not on all areas of the skin.

Since most over-the-counter acne treatments are going to contain either benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid it is best to choose one with the smallest concentration possible. You can increase the strength until you find one that properly treats your acne breakouts without causing further damage to your skin. Then as you use the product, it is best to treat only areas that are prone to acne to avoid over drying the surrounding areas of your skin.

There are also options for acne treatment that don’t have such harsh and drying products like benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. Often these are home remedies for acne that have proven successful for people in the past. However, it is important to remember that home remedies don’t work for everyone so you may need to try several different home treatments before you can find one that works best for your unique skin type. Some common home remedies have included lemon juice, oatmeal and garlic.