If you are thinking about going to get laser acne treatment, stop and think twice. That kind of clinical treatment can be expensive, uncomfortable, time consuming and even dangerous. If you can use some at home acne remedies to get rid of your acne quick, why on earth would you put yourself under a hot light bulb to do the same thing?
A decent OCT acne treatment will usually include one or more of the following ingredients.
Zinc
Zinc is found in toothpaste, which is why some people will recommend that you use a little Colgate when you need to get rid of a zit overnight. Zinc is strong stuff and great at cleaning out pores, but can be a little abrasive if you plan on smearing toothpaste on your nose.
Benzyl Peroxide
This is the base of most OTC remedies. Pads and facial cleansers use benzyl peroxide as a way to safely and gently clean out your pores and keep them fresh.
Salicylic Acid
Another pore cleanser, salicylic is often sold as-is in bottles over the counter for direct application with cotton balls or pads. Salicylic acid is really what you want to use if you have sensitive skin, if you have other conditions besides acne or if you just have mild acne.
Alpha Hydroxy Acids
Alpha hydroxyl acids, or AHA, come in any number of forms. You have glycolic acid, citric acid, lactic acid, malic acid, and tartaric acid. These come from cane sugar, citrus fruit and dairy and are effective on all skin types, against all types of acne and are best used for mild to strong treatment. These acids break apart the cellular glue that holds the oil and dead skin cells together in your pores.
Besides cleaning out pores, alpha hydroxyl acids also have an added benefit in that they can restore and rejuvenate damaged skin. If you have acne scarring or would like to prevent it, then AHA may well be the way to go.