Top 5 Ways to Clear Skin Through the Decades

As a woman in my 30s, I have battled acne all my life. I have been following the fads as well as the advancements in skincare for the last 20 years. Here are a few top treatments I have used in the past--from grease busters to re-surfacers to drying lotions--and a few tricks to help your complexion from day to day.

1. The Pill

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Yes, the number 1 cause of acne breakouts is hormones, not, the foods you are eating or sweating too much at the gym. The pill can balance out your hormones and tame acne breakouts. This is the best way to tame your acne in your teens and 20s, when your hormones are fluctuating the most. Alternatives to the pill that give you the same dose of hormones, like the patch and certain implants can have the same effect, but the pill has been tried and true for decades.

Down sides: you have to take it at the same time every day and there are possible side effects as noted by your doctor or pharmacist. Just consult with your doctor to see which birth control option is best for you. There are a lot of different pills out there so ask you doctor which he/she recommends.


2. Benzoyl Peroxide

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A common ingredient in acne-fighting creams and the main ingredient in Proactiv, benzoyl peroxide works to dry out acne and sterilize the area to prevent more breakouts from occurring. This treatment is great for someone who doesn't have sensitive skin and who has large pimples and oily skin. You can find "gentle" versions of creams and face washes that have smaller amounts of benzoyl peroxide. I recommend trying these first to see how your skin reacts and then moving to a higher dosage. I would also recommend trying 1 product with this ingredient, either a cream or a face wash and not both to prevent over-drying

Down sides: can over-dry your skin, especially sensitive skin. Because of its skin-bleaching properties, it can also bleach you clothes. Yes, bleach your clothes! So be very careful when using it and don't use it on your body unless you plan on only wearing polyester clothes that don't bleach and washing then separately for the rest of your life. Because of this, I only use a benzoyl peroxide cream (Terminator 10 with time-release medication) on my face and very sparingly. 

3. Salicylic Acid

This acid is naturally found in willow bark and acid foods like strawberries and works to peel off a layer of skin and speed skin regeneration. It can work wonderfully for people in their teens through their 40s and can been gentler than benzoyl peroxide for many. Unlike benzoyl peroxide, this doesn't stain your clothes so it is suitable for use on your body to fight those pimples that crop up under your bra strap or on your front or back. 

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Down sides: can be drying or irritating and is not recommended for pregnant women. Because it works to take off the surface layer of skin, it works great for little black heads and to reduce those larger pimples, but those with sensitive skin might find it too drying. The highest over-the-counter dosage is 2% so find either a face wash or a spot treatment that has 1% or less and work your way up to 2. Also, because it is closely related to aspirin it is usually not recommended for pregnant women.

4. Sulfur 

That's right, sulfur. There are quite a few masks and spot treatments out there with sulfur as an ingredient and they can work to dry a pimple out as wells as treat it. 

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Many of these masks recommend using it as a spot or overnight treatment to diminish the size and look of pimples. They work for most people and are usually not too drying.

Down sides: the smell and not too effective. The sulfur smell can be too much for some people (my husband can't stand it). Also, the masks work to dry out the oil in the pimple and calm the skin. They don't usually work as fast as the stronger medicines like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. 

5. Tea Tree Oil

A natural ingredient, tea tree oil is an antiseptic and can work to heal pimples. Coupled with other calming ingredients like sulphur and green tea, it can work well to treat pimples after a breakout.

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Great for sensitive skin and safe for pregnant women, this ingredient can work best for certain skin types. 

Down sides: the smell, effectiveness. I love the smell of tea tree oil but for some reason it is too antiseptic-smelling for my husband so I have to cover up the scent before bed time. Also, it is not as strong of an ingredient so those of you with severe acne might not find it works as well as others. However, since it is safe for pregnant women (hormones in the 1st trimester can ravage the skin), I used Belli's spot treatment through pregnancy and an still using it today. I was the only thing that worked since my skin became too sensitive for even smaller doses of other meds. It works great to dry out pimples and counter redness. 

Bottom line:

Ask you doctor what would work best for you and try out a few different options. There are a lot of treatments out there and they don't all work for everyone. You'll have to keep trying until you find the right one for you. Until then, don't pick at your skin, concealer is your best friend and ease into new treatments to attain the best possible results!