The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) notes that sebum, a bodily oil, enters the hair follicle and the pore and seeps onto the skin surface. The most effective acne products include soaps, topical applications and drying products, used together in a regular schedule to minimize skin oil and reduce inflammation.
Soaps
Hair, oil and dead skin cells create blockages that allow the oil to fill the follicle, creating blackheads and whiteheads as well as acne infections. Acne soaps remove a portion of the oil but leave some in place to maintain supple skin. Soap and a light washcloth work together to clean the skin and to slough off dead skin cells.
A variety of soaps effectively clear acne bacteria from the back, face, chest and other parts of the body. Sulfur works to break down the composition of whiteheads and blackheads, and sulfur soap is available without a prescription from various manufacturers. The Mayo Clinic also recommends acne soaps that incorporate benzoyl peroxide, a product that destroys bacteria that creates acne. NIAMS states that soaps incorporating benzoyl peroxide work to inhibit oil production.
Topical Applications
While many people persist in rough scrubbing and frequent application of astringents as a way of reducing skin oil, these products do not achieve the intended effect. NIAMS discourages astringents in all but extremely oily skin but does recommend using astringent on selected spots of extremely oily skin for mild forms of acne.
NIAMS also recommends topical lotions incorporating either antibiotics or a form of vitamin A known as retinoid derivatives as highly effective acne treatments. The products work to clear the follicular canals for oil to easily flow from the passage. The prescription products frequently reduce the amount of oil production, in addition to avoiding clogged pores.
Topical products are most effective when applied after washing the skin, usually in the evening before bed to allow the product to work overnight. In cases of severe oiliness, topical applications may also be done after the morning washing. Manufacturers discourage long-term use of the products.
Drying Products
In addition to regular cleansing, oily skin and acne require the use of effective drying products incorporating agents such as benzoyl peroxide, azelaic acid (marketed under the commercial name of Azelex), sodium sulfacetamide or sulfur derivatives. Application of these products to specific areas where drying is required reduces oil production and acne inflammation.
While over-the-counter products incorporate levels of benzoyl peroxide of up to 5 percent, prescription-strength versions allow access to higher levels of the drying agent.
