Scrubbing with wash cloths or abrasive cleansers won t wear pimples down, but will exacerbate the problem. Instead, use natural botanical and vegetable oil-based soaps that cleanse gently without stripping the skin. Twice each day is usually sufficient. Commercial acne treatments run the gamut of forms and of possible side effects. Certain creams and lotions that contain zinc, sulphur or benzyl peroxide may reduce pimples, but they can also burn and leave skin dry and blotchy.
Some oral medications offer help, but with significant risks.
Antibiotics, for instance, do improve acne conditions, but they also interfere with the balance of healthy intestinal flora, making the problem cyclic. As the manufacturer cautions, malformation of the fetal brain, spine, skull and heart are possible if used just before or during pregnancy. Other side effects include loss of bone density, arthritis and depression. Fortunately, your natural products store will have a variety of quality brands of cleansers, toners and topical creams that are gentle and effective against adult acne, but without these negative effects. Azelaic acid is a naturally occurring acid that stabilizes keratin production and produces results comparable to that of Retin-A, benzoyl peroxide or oral antibiotics, such as tetracycline.