Nearly everyone has had to deal with acne at some point in their life, whether it’s whiteheads, blackheads, the occasional pimple or full-on breakouts. But, knowing which type of acne you’re dealing with can make all the difference in creating the best skin care regimen for acne that’s effective for you and your skin.

We’re breaking down a few of the most common types of acne, plus the most effective skin care products from SkinCeuticals, La Roche-Posay, Vichy and Dermablend that can help. In this blog we’ll answer:

• Do you need a skin care regimen for acne?
• Which ingredients are important in an acne regimen?
• Which products are in the best acne regimen for oily complexions?
• Which products are in the best acne regimen for blackheads and whiteheads?
• What is the best acne regimen for adult acne?

Do You Need a Skin Care Regimen for Acne?

If you are prone to breakouts, a dedicated skin care regimen for acne can make all the difference. Excess oil, clogged pores and bacteria called Propionibacterium acnes are all culprits that contribute to blackheads, whitehead and pimples. The best skin care regimen for acne actively works to eliminate these factors, which helps to minimize existing blemishes while preventing new ones from forming.

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that once you find an acne regimen that works, stick to it. Give your acne system at least four weeks to work before you make any assessments. Constantly switching out products could lead to further irritation of the skin, resulting in potentially more breakouts.

We asked board-certified dermatologist and LovelySkin CEO, Dr. Joel Schlessinger for his take on acne regimens:

“Over the counter treatments are often a huge assist in treating acne and dermatologist-approved products like the ones offered by L'Oreal are a step up from many of the generic or drugstore-brand products. Having said this, if acne is severe or causing scarring, it’s a smart idea to see a board-certified dermatologist to get to the heart of what’s causing your acne. In addition to staying consistent with a prescribed skin care regimen for acne, there are other simple, but effective, changes that can also help. Cutting out dairy from your diet, consistently cleaning makeup brushes (and not sharing them with anyone else) and refraining from popping pimples and squeezing blackheads can make a difference in your skin health."

“Finally, if you deal with cystic acne, it’s important to know that over-the-counter acne regimens will need to be used in conjunction with standard prescription medications from a dermatologist. See a board-certified dermatologist who may prescribe oral antibiotics, prescription-strength retinols, like tretinoin (also called Retin-A), or other high-strength treatments.”

Which ingredients are important in an acne regimen?

There are many ingredients that are helpful in any over-the-counter acne regimen. Here are just a few skin care ingredients you can find in some of the best skin care regimens for acne:

Benzoyl Peroxide

Benzoyl peroxide is a chemical compound that kills bacteria that creates inflammation in the pores, leading to pimples.

Salicylic Acid

Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid that dissolves dead skin cells that clog or block pores, contributing to blemishes. Additionally, Dr. Schlessinger says,

"There tends to be less allergic reactions to salicylic acid, as opposed to benzoyl peroxide, making it a fairly universal acne treatment that’s safe for most people to use."

Antioxidants

Antioxidants are known for neutralizing free radicals on the skin (which primarily come from UV exposure and pollution). These free radicals cause inflammation and contribute to the formation of dark spots, wrinkles, dehydration and acne. When used in tandem with more traditional acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide, antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin E and silymarin, which is derived from milk thistle, work to minimize oil oxidation and inflammation that contributes to acne

Lipohydroxy Acid (LHA)

A derivative of salicylic acid, lipohydroxy acid (LHA) is ideal for those that have a combination of acne-prone, mature or sensitive skin. It features a slow penetration rate, allowing for cell-by-cell exfoliation, minimizing skin irritation. Additionally studies show that LHAs also stimulate collagen and elastic production, making it a powerful ingredient for anti-aging.

Kaolin Clay

Kaolin clay is a mild, gentle clay that helps absorb excess oil and impurities that clog pores, contributing to acne. Typically found in masks for oily skin, kaolin clay is also a common ingredient in moisturizers since it helps in both preventing the occasional pimple and mattifying an oily complexion.

Which Products are in the Best Acne Regimen for Oily Complexions?

If you only deal with the occasional pimple here and there caused by fluctuating hormones, stress or other issues, then try incorporating skin care products featuring antioxidants into your daily acne regimen.

The SkinCeuticals Silymarin CF Vitamin C Serum contains the antioxidant silymarin, which reduces oil oxidation by up to 76%, helping prevent clogged pores. It also contains a light dose of 0.5% salicylic acid for exfoliation of dead skin cells while providing additional free radical protection from vitamins C and E.

In addition, choosing a sunscreen formulated for oily complexions can help ensure that your daily protective skin care regimen doesn’t contribute to additional breakouts. The La Roche-Posay Anthelios Clear Skin SPF 60 Dry Touch Sunscreen offers excellent UVA/UVB protection using a powerful antioxidant technology, Cell-Ox Shield®, to boost the efficacy of the sunscreen while neutralizing free radical damage to help protect skin against the signs of aging. Perlite and silica also help absorb excess oil, mattifying the complexion while reducing shine.

Pro Tip: Make sure to look for an oil-free formula when choosing foundation makeup to help with acne-prone skin. To cover existing blemishes, acne scars or uneven tone without clogging pores, try Dermablend Flawless Creator Multi-use Liquid Pigments. This concentrated formula is both non-comedogenic and non-acneic, so it won’t contribute to acne and uses 33% mineral pigments to smooth and perfect your complexion. For best results, add one drop to your skin for light coverage or use up to four drops for full coverage.

Which Products are in the Best Acne Regimen for Blackheads and Whiteheads?

Believe it or not, blackheads and whiteheads are technically the same form of acne, known as comedones. Both occur when pores become clogged with oil, dead skin cells and bacteria. However, blackheads result in open pores while whiteheads have closed pores. The good news is that the best acne regimen for both uses similar ingredients. Look for products with salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide, which work to kill bacteria in pores and dissolve dead skin cells.

The La Roche-Posay Effaclar 3-Step System is a complete skin care regimen for acne, that specifically targets blackheads and white heads. It contains a medicated cleanser, clarifying toner and acne skin treatment designed to help both prevent and treat existing breakouts when used together. Loaded with anti-acne ingredients at effective concentrations, this 3-step acne regimen features 2% salicylic acid in the medicated cleanser and 5.5% benzoyl peroxide in the treatment gel to address issues with clogged pores.

What is the Best Acne Regimen for Adult Acne?"

Adult acne is acne that occurs after age 25, but the culprits behind it are primarily the same as acne at younger ages. Excess oil, dead skin cells that won’t exfoliate properly, bacteria and inflammation all contribute to adult acne. Additionally, improper diets, hormones and stress may also be a factor in the formation of adult acne. Because this is also an age when sun damage and wrinkles start to rear their ugly head, the best skin care regimen for adult acne features common acne-fighting ingredients in a sophisticated way to tackle it head on.

The SkinCeuticals Adult Anti-Acne System contains a cleansing gel, exfoliating toner and treatment antioxidant serum that all feature a sophisticated blend of lipohydroxy, salicylic, glycolic and dioic acids to help decongest pores, reduce excess oil and exfoliate dead skin cells. In addition, this powerful blend of exfoliating ingredients works to help diminish sun damage, dull skin and fine lines, making it an effective skin care regimen for acne as well as aging.

Ideal for adult acne, Vichy Normaderm PhytoAction Acne Control Daily Moisturizer combines the power of 2% salicylic acid with kaolin to help absorb excess oil and dissolve dead skin cells. This moisturizer also includes vitamin C to help brighten skin and neutralize free radicals, while hyaluronic acid works to plump and hydrate skin for a more youthful complexion.

Want to know more about skin care regimens for acne? Read 7 Ways to Help Heal & Treat Infected Acne on the LovelySkin blog.