Suffering from even a minor acne flair up can wreck your week, but suffering from continual moderate to serious acne can ruin your self esteem. There are options that can help you if you have moderate to severe acne.

One of the most common treatments for acne is a topical cream. The primary ingredient in many acne creams is benzoyl peroxide. Benzoyl Peroxide helps acne by killing acne bacteria and by reducing oil production of the skin. You'll find benzoil peroxide products available in creams,gels,and cleaning pads. There are also other topical acne applications with different active ingredients. You'll find sulfur, salicylic acid, and resorcinol products. These are all available as over the counter treatments at your local drugstore.

Other more potent topical acne treatments are available by perscription. These are generally antibiotic based. They help stop acne by keeping the pores open and uninfected.

Sometimes a topical treatment alone cannot do the job and your dermatologist may recommend an oral antibiotic as well as a topical treatment.

While there is no known cure for acne, there are a number of acne treatments and treatment combinations available today to help you keep your acne under control. In some cases acne prevention and treatment will be a life-long endeavor,for others it's a problem only during the teenage and young adult years. Regardless of the severity or duration of your acne problem a trip to the dermatologist for proper diagnosis based on your skin type and circumstances is highly recommended. Your doctor will work with you to come up with the best acne prevention plan for you.