acne spot treatments

Zit. Pimple. Blemish. Acne. No one wants them, and if you’ve got one you certainly don’t want to be reminded of it. It's along the same lines of someone saying "you look tired"... these passive aggressive comments just aren't needed.

Practically every skincare company makes a spot treatment for people with either full-blown-all-over-the-face whiteheads (aka pustules), blackheads, acne for aging skin, acne for teens, hormonal acne, stress acne, etc. Each spot treatment has a different ingredient and it can be confusing trying to figure out which ingredient will work for you and why.

Even if you only get an occasional breakout, you should own a spot treatment. Think of it as having band-aids. No one wants to go to the drugstore while they’re bleeding to buy band-aids. Just like no one wants to go to the store with a mountainous pimple on their face trying to buy a spot treatment. ‘Cause let me tell you, if it’s already the size of Kilimanjaro, you’ve got a lot of damage control.

I’m going to break down some of the most popular acne-fighting ingredients in spot treatments and show you a few products that might be just right for you.

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Salicylic Acid- derived for Aspirin and is considered a beta hydroxy, or BHA. This ingredient will go down into the pore and push everything out (which is why sometimes it looks worse, before it gets better). 2% is the max OTC amount.

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Benzoyl Peroxide- an antimicrobial/antibacterial that will kill the bacteria in the pore that causes the inflammation. If used too much then the skin can become dry and cracked (sometimes looking worse than the blemish). 10% is the max OTC amount, but 5% is better. It can cause “bleaching” to clothes so I usually advise clients to use a white pillow case and not wear pajama’s that they care about, if they’re putting it on their body.

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Sulfur- this is a drying ingredient (and slightly smelly) and dries out the oil. This will also dry the living daylights out of the blemish and your skin, if overused. I believe 10% is the max OTC amount but typically 3-5% is common.

Retin-A (trentinoin)- (a prescription). This takes the most time to see results but is better for someone who suffers from blackheads and all-over acne. Retin-A (a retinol) rapidly overturns skin cells, helping to clear the clogged pore and rid the skin of that annoying acne staining. Acne staining is hyper-pigmentation that is left when the actual blemish is gone, but you’re left with a mark, or a stain. It does go away on its own, but it feels like it takes forever to go away naturally. Another perk with Retin-A? It’s one of the best anti-wrinkle products making it perfect for the person with adult acne.

How about a natural spot treatment, you ask? Do you need a natural spot treatment? If you are pregnant/breast feeding or have sensitive skin that irritates easily then you should use a natural spot treatment. They're just as effective but can take a little longer to see results. 

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Willow Bark- this is the natural alternative to salicylic acid.

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Tea Tree Oil- antimicrobial. This is the natural alternative to a Benzoyl Peroxide.

As with any of these ingredients, less is more. Don’t attack your face like a military general preparing for war. Follow the directions on the label and only put the product where you have the blemish. These are spot treatments, after all.

Personally I’ve had good luck with products containing benzoyl peroxide- like the DDF one. I do like a salicylic for my body though. But that’s just me. Sometimes you need to try a few brands with different ingredients in order to find the right fit. Also keep in mind that every brand and product will have its own proprietary blend. Basically what I’m saying is, you’re going to have to try on a few pair of shoes before you find your Prince Charming.

Do you use a spot treatment? If so, what's your favorite?