By Rita R. Robison
Acne is not just a problem for adolescents – about 26 percent of women and 12 percent of men in their 40s report having acne, and treatment can be costly.
Some of the popular treatments are effective, but the biggest difference among them was the price tag, ShopSmart magazine, published by Consumer Reports, said in its December 2011 issue.
“Millions of Americans deal with acne on a daily basis,” said Lisa Lee Freeman, editor-in-chief of ShopSmart. “We went out and tested lotions, washes, and even gadgets to find out what options exist, and were pleased to find that even inexpensive options can help.”
Here are the acne fighters that ShopSmart tested:
Lotions and washes
Benzoyl peroxide topical treatments are some of the best over-the-counter options for most people. Proactiv, promoted in ads with stars like Katy Perry and Justin Bieber, and AcneFree both claim to be the top brand. We tested those three-part systems against Oxy Maximum, an inexpensive benzoyl perozide wash, and found they all work about the same. None got rid of acne completely, but they all reduced blemish counts on many faces by about 40 percent.
Oxy Maximum
Price: $5 for 6 oz. – lasts about two to three month
What it includes: A face wash with 10 percent benzoyl peroxide. One caution: It might cause some irritation on sensitive skin.
Where to get it: Drugstores, discount retailers, online
Proactiv
Price: $20 per kit – lasts about a month
What it includes: A wash and a repair lotion, each with 2.5 percent benzoyl peroxide, and a toner.
Where to get it: Proactiv.com and mall kiosks
AcneFree
Price: $20 per kit – lasts about two months
What it includes: A wash containing 2.5 percent benzoyl peroxide, a repair lotion containing 3.7 percent benzoyl peroxide, and a toner.
Where to get it: Drugstores and discount retailers
Zappers
The Zeno Hot Spot and the No! No! Skin devices claim to reduce or completely eliminate red, inflamed acne blemishes using heat and/or light, but they aren’t designed for whiteheads and blackheads. We had 26 volunteers test each device on a few blemishes on one side of their face for two days. Both devices were somewhat effective at reducing the size of acne lesions but erased only about 13 percent of blemishes. A zapper may be a good last-minute fix, but it isn’t cheap.
Zeno Hot Spot
Price: $40 for 80 uses
Best for: People who need to clear blemishes only once in a while. If you don’t have a lot of blemishes to zap, there’s no need to spend more.
Where to get it: Drugstores, discount retailers, online
No! No! Skin
Price: $180
Best for: People who have frequent outbreaks. This pricey model may actually save you money over the long run because it’s rechargeable.
Where to get it: Neiman Marcus, HSN.com, online
I think it's really good to recognize that acne is something adults can and do face as well. Product reviews are always helpful as well because then you don't feel like you spent your own time and money trying to find something that works.
Posted by: Tim Wilson | December 14, 2011 at 08:33 AM
I think naturell treatment is best. and there are many medicines hich dont work
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Posted by: William Ayden | May 01, 2012 at 10:03 PM
Hi William,
I'm glad you found the article helpful.
Rita
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