Acne is a common skin condition, caused by changes in pilosebaceous units, skin structures consisting of a hair follicle and its associated sebaceous gland, via androgen stimulation. It is characterized by noninflammatory follicular papules or comedones and by inflammatory papules, pustules, and nodules in its more severe forms. Acne affects the areas of skin with the densest population of sebaceous follicles; these areas include the face, the upper part of the chest, and the back.

New products seem to appear on store shelves by the hundreds, literally overnight. Demand for the latest products is always huge and largely flamed by the effective and often misleading advertising campaigns of skin care companies. Consumers always seem to be convinced that new products will work much better than their prior treatments. A close comparison of product labels quickly reveals just how ignorant most consumers are. The same ingredients in your last acne treatment are simply repackaged and restocked.

Benzoyl peroxide is the most common ingredient in most acne products. It can treat several contributing factors to acne. It kills acne bacteria and improves skin cell turnover, which is the primary cause of acne. Dead skin which fails to slough off instead penetrates and obstructs pores, trapping sebum and bacteria.

Most acne treatments consist of at least a few steps:

1. You have to wash and cleanse the skin
2. Apply an toning solution
3. Use some topical products

In most cases, a plain tube of benzoyle peroxide will be just as good as any other OTC product. A gentle cleanser and benzoyl peroxide is all you need.

It is typically placed over the affected areas in gel or cream form, in concentrations of 2.5% increasing through the usually effective 5% to up to 10%. Research suggests that 5 and 10% concentrations are not significantly more effective than 2.5% and 2.5% is usually better tolerated.

Be sure to purchase only the low concentration form of the topical, which should be 2.5%. In the U. S., the typical concentration for benzoyl peroxide is 2.5% to 10% for both prescription and over the counter preparations that are used in treatment for acne.