Hey, you! Yes, ‘YOU’ who have been struggling with acne for years. Have you ever tried acne gel for this purpose? Well, acne gel is one of the standard topical acne treatments. It is far more popular than other equivalents, like acne cleansers, creams, and spot treatments. Today, we will discuss why these acne gels are good for you, the available choices, and how they give us clear, acne-free skin. Let’s start:
Benefits Of Using Gels For Acne
Before getting into the details of acne gels, it is essential to know how these gel formulations differ from other acne treatments. To be precise, acne gels have several advantages over other potential remedies for acne available on the market. Here is a list: (1) (2)
- The gel formulation is exceptionally light and never gives a heavy feeling. Hence, you will never feel like you have used acne treatment on your face.
- It is easily spreadable and glides over the skin like a breeze. Hence, you will never find the application difficult.
- It gets absorbed into the skin almost immediately, and you don’t need to massage for a long time.
- It is very gentle on the skin, which makes the application worry-free.
Also Read – How To Prevent And Treat Body Acne Successfully?
Different Types Of Acne Gel
Not all acne gels are the same. Based on their formulations, acne gels can be of different types. So, let’s take a sneak peek into acne gel varieties:
Benzoyl Peroxide Gel
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), benzoyl peroxide is one of the best acne medicines. It has natural antibacterial properties, destroying acne-causing bacteria and reducing pore inflammation. It also prevents further clogging of pores by injecting air into them. These help in averting the development of new acne while minimizing the appearance of existing acne to a great extent. Benzoyl peroxide acne gel is available in three variants (2.5% solution, 5% solution, and 10% solution), and they are known to be the most commonly recommended gel treatments for acne based on the severity of breakouts.
Even though the efficacy of benzoyl peroxide acne gel is backed with solid research evidence, it still comes with its own set of issues. Being loaded with harsh chemicals, it can take a toll on sensitive skin and give others a lot of complications, including irritation, burning / stinging sensation, allergic reactions (rash, swelling, itching, redness, peeling / scaling, etc.), and even skin cancer in the case of long-term use.
Also Read – Oregano Oil – A Natural, Safe And Effective Acne Treatment
Salicylic Acid Gel
Be it derived from the bark of a white willow tree or produced in the laboratory, salicylic acid is highly effective in combating acne and breakouts. It is entirely different from benzoyl peroxide but offers the same benefits of unclogging pores on the skin by killing acne-causing bacteria. It can also speed up the process of shedding the upper layer of the skin, which improves the healing time and eventually reduces the scarring. However, different side effects of using salicylic acid acne gel are redness, scaling, stinging sensation, nausea, vomiting, etc.
Tea Tree Oil Gel
Those who want a natural yet equally powerful alternative to benzoyl peroxide can go for tea tree oil acne gel. It works on the acne-causing bacteria to destroy them entirely and also prevents further breakouts. The only drawback is that it works more slowly than all other chemical counterparts. Tea tree oil acne gel also has specific adverse reactions on the skin, such as redness, irritation, allergic reactions, etc. However, as a natural remedy, the effects are much milder than benzoyl peroxide.
Retinol Gel
Retinol gel contains vitamin A, the lack of which is closely linked to the development of severe acne. Once absorbed into the skin, it flows through the bloodstream and reduces inflammation significantly. As a result, the appearance of acne improves a lot. However, like all other acne gel treatments, retinol acne gel can also cause a few side effects like photosensitivity, redness, irritation, peeling, etc.
Also Read – How To Make The Most Of Avocado Oil For Acne
Antibiotic Gel
As the name says, these are antibiotics available as gels for topical acne treatment. Usually, antibiotics like Clindamycin, Erythromycin, Tetracycline, etc, are used for this purpose. The mechanism of work of antibiotic acne gels differs from that of oral antibiotics to some extent. While some decrease the number of acne-causing bacteria on the skin, others focus on reducing inflammation. Nevertheless, it has side effects like irritation, rash, peeling, etc.
It is always recommended that you follow the advice of a dermatologist regarding the choice of acne gel. Also, continue treatment for at least three consecutive months before concluding. It will help you make the right decision and heal your acne efficiently.
Summary
Acne sufferers, listen up! Have you considered using acne gel if you’ve been wrestling with acne for years? It’s a popular, topical treatment, lighter than cleansers or creams, offering easy application and quick absorption. Acne gels stand out with benefits like a weightless feel and gentle application. Varieties include Benzoyl Peroxide, Salicylic Acid, Tea Tree Oil, Retinol, and Antibiotic Gels, each with unique strengths and possible side effects. Seeking professional advice is crucial for effective and safe acne treatment.
