Acne Treatments

CosmeticsCop.com is an informative website created by Paula Begoun, author of the book Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me. The website includes product reviews as well as skin care facts and tips.… Begoun's article, "Battles Plan for Fighting Blemishes," gives very informative information and a step-by-step plan to attack acne. In her beauty report, "Best of 2007," Begoun lists the top products reviewed for the year. While she insists that acne products have not improved much, she does list Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Stress Control 3-in-1 Hydrating Acne Treatment as a winner and states that it is one of only three effective salicylic acid products available at the drugstore.

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Allure editors along with cosmetics chemists and dermatologists test nearly 2,000 products and choose 187 as the best in their categories. Both old and new products are tested in order to find the best on… the market. However, products are merely listed with no description or critique. This year's winning acne treatments are Sonya Dakar Drying Potion and Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Stress Control 3-in-1 Hydrating Acne Treatment.

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Cosmetic Executive Women, a beauty industry trade organization of more than 4,000 executives, announces the winners for their 2007 Insider's Choice Beauty Awards. Beauty winners are chosen for several… categories by CEW members, industry professionals and beauty experts. Two products are chosen in each category, one higher-priced option and one low-priced. MD Skincare All-Over Blemish Solution and Neutrogena Rapid Clear Pads (with 2% salicylic acid) are both rated as winners in the acne treatment category. There is no information given about the products except for the manufacturers' descriptions.

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InStyle editors list more than 140 top beauty picks based on the favorites of industry experts for their 13th annual poll. The winners are listed in the categories of makeup, face, hair and body, and a… brief description is given for each. Top-rated acne treatments are Clearasil Ultra Vanishing Acne Treatment Cream (with 10 percent benzoyl peroxide) for Best Acne Spot Treatment, and Clean & Clear Advantage Acne Control Kit (which uses benzoyl peroxide in the cleanser and salicylic acid in the moisturizer and spot treatment) for Best Acne Regimen.

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This article documents the results of a study that compared adapalene 0.1%, tazarotene 0.1% and a combination of the two retinoid treatments. The results of the study show no difference in efficacy between… the three treatments. Differences in irritation, however, are reported. Tazarotene is reported to be more irritating than adapalene and there is a double peak of irritation when switching between the two. Researchers conclude that it is more beneficial for patients to continue with the same retinoid for a period of at least 12 weeks before making any changes.

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Redbook editors list some of the latest acne-fighting products on the market and give a brief description of each. Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Stress Control 3-in-1 Hydrating Acne Treatment is called "the… cheap fix" and ThermaClear, a heat therapy treatment, is called "the fast solution." For "luxe treatment," editors recommend Decleor Aromassage Purify Massage Treatment. Products are not rated and it is unclear whether or not they were tested or compared to others.

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Julyne Derrick, About.com's Beauty Guide, lists seven facts about adult acne, discussing each briefly. She states that one in five women between the ages of 25 and 40 suffer from acne but that treatments… differ from those that are effective for teens. Several products are recommended, including the Zeno Acne Clearing Device, but none are rated or compared. (Note that ConsumerSearch and About.com are owned by the same parent company, but are not affiliated editorially.)

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Over 1,700 facial treatments, including acne products, are reviewed by members of this website. Product reviews can be sorted in a multitude of ways, making it easy for users to find the highest consumer… rated products as well as those that are reviewed most often. Some products receive hundreds of reviews while others receive only a few. Among those with many reviews, Dan Kern's Regimen Gel, Jan Marini Bioclear and Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid receive the highest ratings. You must register (for free) to use this website.

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Consumers can read and post reviews for products sold at Drugstore.com, which include several personal care items. Most of the acne care products listed are reviewed at least once but a few of them are… reviewed upwards of 1,000 times. Of those that are reviewed the most, Neutrogena Clear Pore Cleanser/Mask, Klear Action Acne Treatment System and Burt's Bees Doctor Burt's Herbal Blemish Stick with Tea Tree Oil rate the highest.

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Ashley Bleimes reports on two acne-fighting devices that use high heat to zap breakouts. Zeno, made by Tyrell Inc., heats to a temperature of 118.5 degrees Fahrenheit and is applied to a blemish for 2-1/2… minutes. ThermaClear, from Therative, heats to 212 degrees Fahrenheit and is applied for about two seconds. Darrell Rigel, a dermatologist and professor at New York University comments that there are not a lot of studies on this treatment, "But it may be something to try." A spokesperson for Zeno adds that once you develop a whitehead, heat would do nothing to speed the process along.

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Choice is the largest consumer organization in Australia and publishes a magazine that is similar to Consumer Reports. This article contains useful information about the causes of acne as well as different… treatment options. Benzoyl peroxide is believed to be the most effective ingredient for eliminating blemishes. Authors state that it should be applied over the entire effected area and should be used even when skin is clear. Other effective treatments are discussed, including sulfur, salicylic acid, retinoids and prescription medications. No specific brands are recommended or rated.

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Dana Hudepohl recommends combination treatments for people suffering from acne. Retinoids, for example, can be effective for all types of acne, but they are even more so when used in combination with… hormonal, antibiotic or benzoyl peroxide treatments. Hudepohl suggests a combination of benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid for those with mild cases of acne but suggests that those with severe cases might need prescription strength medications. No specific products are reviewed but a list of alternative, natural remedies is included.

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Phylameana lila Desy, About.com's Guide to Holistic Healing, states that natural remedies can be just as effective as medications in combating acne. She lists simple tips such as washing the face twice… daily, taking a multivitamin and drinking eight glasses of water daily. It is suggested that it may take up to four weeks to notice results. No particular products are rated or recommended here. (Note that ConsumerSearch and About.com are owned by the same company, but are not affiliated editorially.)

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