Acne Treatment - Finding The Right Solution

Dog saliva, snail secretions and avoiding sex have been revealed as some of the extreme measures Australians have taken to relieve the embarrassment of a spotty face. Recent research from PuraSkin has revealed that although acne is commonplace in Australia (84% of us currently suffer or have had it in the past), many teens and adults are going to hazardous lengths to eradicate it, risking their own health in the process.According to the study, 20 per cent of Australians say their acne has brought on depression, with 52 per cent feeling like everyone was looking at them in public.

Respondents even claimed that pimples were worse than losing a limb, or getting a sexually transmissible infection, giving an alarming insight into the psychological impact of this common skin condition. Shockingly this level of anxiety and self consciousness has led some acne sufferers to abuse their skin by using strange and potentially dangerous treatments. Based on the research findings, PuraSkin estimates that: almost 350,000 Australians have tried using urine to treat their skin; over half a million sufferers have used household products like bleach or window cleaner in an attempt to treat their spots; many more (2.94 million) have experimented with using everyday products like toothpaste.

Typically, Australian acne sufferers try an average of three to four different acne treatments, but some are desperate enough to experiment with 15 or more. I had acne for 15 years from the age of 12, so I know first hand how traumatic it can be, and how tempted you are to try anything once. However these statistics are a wake up call. Pimples are painful but they need to be kept in perspective - particularly as some old wives tale treatments can end up doing more harm than good. Although you might have to try different treatments to find an effective solution for you, it's important you use clinically tested products that are effective and gentle on your skin. Over the course of her battle with acne Nadine herself tried over 20 treatments, eventually visiting a dermatologist who prescribed her a commonly used drug seen as the last resort for problem skin.

Although I was fully aware of the side effects of this drug, I had no idea of the extreme changes my body would undergo. I had painful ingrown toenails to the point where my bed sheet was an unbearable weight. My skin was so dry it flaked and cracked and felt like sandpaper. My lips were also so dry that smiling would make them bleed. These physical challenges had a huge knock on effect on my moods and self confidence.

Despite the severity of the side effects, Nadine pressed on with her prescription in the hope that they'd clear up her acne. However, the recommended treatment failed, with her skin becoming worse than ever once she'd finished the second course. There are many acne treatments out there, it may just take you a while to find the one that is right for you.