Acne must be the most disheartening skin condition of all. It arrives at puberty, when everything else is going haywire, and for the teen amongst other teens, the misery is compounded by suffering teasing or ostracizing among one's peers. Some people suffer from acne during their adult lives, along with secondary scarring and the emotional scars that come from having acne. One of the kindest things parents can do for their teens is to help them get the best skin care products and cures possible as soon as they start having trouble.
Not long ago, acne was believed to be the result of out-of-control oil glands combined with a failure to keep the face clean. Acne medications were harsh and often relied on eradicating the oil in the skin by use of alcohol. It was hardly a solution to the problem. Now, we understand that acne is a result of hormonal fluctuations that act on bacteria in the skin. We also know that it's possible to have acne and dry, irritated skin too. The best acne medicines are formulated to soothe the skin while providing acne-fighting medicine.
Fortunately, there are new natural home remedy approaches to acne control. One of the new herbal antibiotics is tea tree oil. An extract from the Australian tea tree, it combines antifungal and antibiotic properties with a soothing and warming feel. The smell is something like eucalyptus--very strong. Tea tree oil can be applied directly to pimples, zits, insect bites, stings, burns, itches and other minor skin irritations. It is also effective in controlling dandruff and can be used to fight athlete's foot. Tea tree oil is sort of a medicine cabinet in itself.
Other more mainstream, but innovative, acne products exist on the market for teens and adult, such as laser acne treatment and Pro Active solution skin care line.
Doctor's Dermatologic Formula (www.ddfskincare.com) puts out an acne-fighting medication called DDF Benzyl Peroxide Gel with 5% Tea Tree Oil. The combination of peroxide and tea tree oil works to cleanse the skin, kill bacteria and heal breakouts.
