Acne Treatment Review

Introduction to acne treatments

There is no shortage of information on effective acne treatments, but we found the most credible advice from well-known cosmetics expert Paula Begoun, author of Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me . Her book contains dozens of reviews for various acne treatment products as well as useful information on treatment regimens. Her website, CosmeticsCop.com, also serves as a great resource of information and reviews. Popular beauty magazines such as Allure, InStyle and Health test name-brand acne treatments as part of their annual beauty awards and provide short reviews of the products that are chosen as winners -- but testing methodology is unclear and the reviews amount to merely a line or two of description. Dermatology journals and studies also provide valuable insight into which products are most effective. There are several websites that claim to review acne products but upon deeper investigation, we found that many of them are sponsored by the brands that they recommend and few, if any, other products are reviewed there. Consumer Reports provides information on the dangers of certain prescription medications used for acne, but does not cover acne treatments in depth.

Acne treatments are sold by virtually every skin care company. In fact, most companies carry a complete line of acne care products. While many of them are similar, however, not all are equal. Paula Begoun, author of the highly acclaimed book Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me, says "This is the one category of products where needless irritation is not the exception, but rather the unfortunate norm." This is because many over-the-counter acne treatments contain harsh ingredients like alcohol and menthol that might make the skin "tingle" but don't help clear up acne. Clean & Clear Cooling Daily Pore Toner , for example, lists alcohol as its second ingredient and also includes menthol for an added "cooling" sensation. According to Begoun, these ingredients are needlessly harsh and can actually do more damage by overly drying the skin. Many experts believe that drying out the skin with harsh products can cause the skin to overcompensate by producing yet more oil, which can cause even more blemishes.

This, according to experts, is not a trend that is likely to end any time soon. That is because consumers actually prefer these products over their less-harsh counterparts. Jennifer Goldstein of Cosmo Girl writes, "Companies make tingly washes and grainy scrubs because research shows that people associate certain sensations with cleanliness. In general, those products do cleanse skin but don't clear up pimples, and they may irritate your skin." Paula Begoun points out that many good acne products don't stay on the market long for this reason. She, along with other experts, warns that you don't have to "feel" something in order for a product to be working. Begoun suggests that careful shopping by acne-prone individuals is a must.