Best Creams for Acne

Last Updated on 2nd March, 2023  • Rashi Agrawal   • 8 Minute Read

Acne

Nowadays, every female and male experiences acne breakouts, which is a fairly prevalent skin condition. Teenagers are particularly susceptible to acne problems. When your skin develops pimples, zits, pustules, blackheads, or whiteheads, it is referred to as acne problems. They are normally caused when sebum, along with pollution, dry skin, and impurities, clogs the skin pores, and bacteria begin to act on those pollutants. While the acne breakout may only be a minor issue for some, in most cases, it results in serious skin infections and scarring if left untreated.

People with sensitive or oily skin face the worst phase dealing with acne, as it always pops up when you least expect them. Commonly, red bumps are caused by imbalanced hormones and poor dietary habits, but they could also develop for other reasons. We recommend using the best acne cream for the face to help rid of the factors that bring on these red bumps.

Re'equil Acne Clarifying Gel

The Re'equil Acne Clarifying Gel is a popular acne treatment among young people. It is a non-drying product that aids in treating active acne outbreaks and prevents new ones from occurring. The gel has effective ingredients like Oligopeptide-10, which is an antimicrobial peptide made from plants, amino acids, salicylic acid, and glycolic acid. With the concentration of these ingredients, the redness is reduced, which is usually caused by the comedolytic activity of AHAs and BHAs since it contains rice bran, Boswellia serrata, and Scutellaria extract.

Klairs Midnight Blue Calming Cream

Klairs Midnight Blue Calming Cream is a moisturizer that hydrates parched skin, soothes inflammation, reduces redness, and promotes youthful skin. It is well-liked by many people who have rosacea or other inflammatory skin diseases and is designed for oily, sensitive, acne-prone skin types. Additionally, it aids in calming and healing skin after sunburns, surgeries, or excessive exfoliation. This cream is lightweight but also very nourishing and calming for the skin, which is exactly what your dehydrated and sensitive skin needs. It is perfect for both daytime and nighttime usage since the ingredients are loaded with antioxidants that protect the skin, refill moisture levels, and reduce inflammation.

Tretinoin

This amazing topical cream is available in two concentrations- 0.05% and 0.25%. This cream is potent and must be used carefully and with your dermatologist's prescription. Tretinoin, a retinoid produced from vitamin A, works by accelerating the life cycle of skin cells, much like retinol. It causes them to divide and die more quickly so that fresher, better skin cells can emerge. Tretinoin has advantages for treating acne as well as reducing the visibility of wrinkles and fine lines. For more youthful, healthier skin cells to emerge from the surface, the concentration causes the skin cells to divide and expedite the process of regeneration of new skin cells. Tretinoin also helps to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines in addition to curing acne.

Himalaya Acne and Pimple Cream

Himalaya brand is one of the well-known brands in India. They are known to manufacture skincare, haircare, oral care, and hygiene care products. This acne and pimple cream from Himalaya uses only natural ingredients in its compositions. Some of the great ingredients you will find in this acne and pimple cream are Alum, Silk Cotton Tree, Chaste with Five Leaves, and Barbados Aloe. With these compositions, the cream helps in battling acne-causing bacteria, promotes skin healing, and prevents further breakouts, infections, and inflammations while also cooling and calming your skin.

Vaadi Herbals Anti-Acne Cream

The Vaadi herbals cream has a unique blend of herbal formulations that helps in treating and uprooting acne skin conditions completely. It contains amazing natural elements like clove oil and neem oil, which ultimately destroy acne-causing germs. The cream also contains a tea tree oil component, which aids in healing pimples and leaves a soothing effect on your skin. 

Mamaearth Tea Tree Spot Gel

The Mamaearth tea tree spot gel is a spot-correcting ointment that contains salicylic acid and tea tree, which are excellent components for treating acne skin conditions. The gel helps in reducing oil production and treats acne and related scarring. The gel also helps in future breakouts by preventing the formation of any new zits.

Khadi Natural Herbal Cream

The Khadi herbal cream is a great skincare item to add to your acne prone-skin ritual. It offers a therapeutic touch with powerful herbal elements like Tea tree oil, Neem, and Aloe Vera that helps in killing all the germs trapped in your acne lesions repairing them in no time. The product has a light creamy base and potent antibacterial and anti-inflammatory qualities.

Phy Green Tea Moisturizer 

Phy moisturizer is a super lightweight cream composed of green tea and lemon. It works amazingly on active acne as a spot treatment and also as a moisturizer, that helps in skin brightening. The cream is powered with acne-fighting and oil control ingredients, Green Tea, and a brightening agent, lemon peel. This moisturizer can be used by all skin types as the texture is lightweight and non-greasy. 

The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%

Although The Ordinary brand has been in the international market for almost a decade now, it was until this year that Indian consumers have direct access to this brand's products via online shopping sites. This brand is famous for its cost-effective products that mainly focus on skin treatments. Targeting acne and uneven skin tone and texture, The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% is a thin cream gel, that actively lessens the acne spots and the prominence of acne scars. 

Bella Vita Anti Acne Cream

Bella Vita Anti-Acne face gel cream is a mild and gentle anti-acne moisturizer infused with jojoba oil, tea tree oil, aloe vera, neem, and tulsi. It cools your face upon application and keeps your skin nourished and hydrated. Bella Vita’s cream is not only effective in controlling acne and pimples but also helps in minimizing oil sebum production and boosts the cell renewal process. The gel helps reduce acne-causing bacteria, prevents pigmentation and blemishes caused by acne, stops future breakouts, and is suitable for all skin types.

Plum Green Tea Night Cream

Plum's Green Tea Night Cream is the best water-based acne treatment cream available in the Indian market. With tons of online reviews, people love this cream for its effectiveness in controlling excessive oil production, acne, and acne scarring. This cream works brilliantly thanks to the good concentration of green tea extracts – an ingredient proven to be effective against all the mentioned skin problems. The argan oil extracts provide balanced hydration and help the skin retain moisture, leaving behind brighter skin.

Biotique Bio Winter Cream

Biotique Bio Winter cream is formulated to protect the skin from contaminants by acting as a barrier. It aids in removing acne scars from your skin. This antibacterial moisturizer contains gum arabic, aloe vera, seaweed extracts, marine algae, and chlorophyll. With the formulation of these components, your skin recovers from blemishes, unclog pores and lessen acne and pimples.

Re'equil Skin Radiance Cream 

Re'equil Skin Radiance Cream contains natural plant extracts that have potent antioxidant properties that promote healing and even skin tone. Due to its scientifically supported components, UV damage may be repaired and melanin production can be rebalanced. It is suitable for all skin types.

Kaumudi Anti-Acne Anti-Blemish Cream

This Ayurvedic acne treatment cream regulates sebum production and shields against acne irritation. It strengthens the skin's resilience to toxins, allergens, and pollutants while moisturizing, relaxing, and nourishing it. Due to its strong antioxidant content, it protects against photo-aging and free radical damage.

Saroj Organics All Clear Cream

This cream by Saroj Organics contains natural ingredients like Tea Tree Oil, Papaya extract, mushroom extract, spinach extract, neem extract, and salicylic acid that help in reducing redness, swelling, and inflammation of acne. It aids in clearing away dead skin cells that can block pores and result in acne.

Neutrogena On-The-Spot Acne Treatment Cream

This Neutrogena cream contains Benzoyl Peroxide, which is one of the best ingredients to treat acne and has been clinically proven to aid in clearing up the skin without over-drying, stinging, or flaring the skin. This ointment penetrates deep into the pores to remove the acne-causing bacteria and help keep new ones from developing. 

Kaya Purifying Nourisher

The Kaya purifying serum is a light water-based nourisher that is non-greasy and leaves your skin feeling nourished and supple. It is non-comedogenic and hypoallergenic, which is perfect for people with oily and combination skin types. The content of Aloe Vera helps to relieve skin itching and antioxidant-rich substances like Rose Extract and Almond Oil protect your skin from environmental factors. It doesn't make your skin feel overly oily, absorbs quickly, and doesn't clog your pores.

Glyco 6 Cream

Glycolic acid, a known acne-fighting chemical, is a key component in this excellent acne-healing cream. The ointment is produced from sugarcane and possesses antibacterial, antioxidant, keratolytic, comedolytic, anti-inflammatory, and eliminates warts and calluses qualities.

Acne OC Sebum Regulating Moisturizer 

Acne-OC A Moisturizer can be easily purchased from OTC (over-the-counter) stores. This cream is a non-greasy, alcohol-free acne cream that was formulated using five natural phytoactive complexes to help treat acne skin conditions.

The Derma Co Fruit AHA Revitalizer Face Cream

On our last list of best creams for acne, is the Derma Co Fruit AHA Revitalizer Face Cream, which has an amazing list of components like tea tree oil, AHAs, and Whitonyl. The formation of these ingredients into one product helps in healing active acne, restoring smooth, wrinkle-free, and rejuvenated complexion, pigmentation, and acne scarring.

How to choose an acne treatment product

There are a few factors to remember when you search for the right acne treatment:

Type of acne:

 Multiple types of acne occur to individuals, therefore, before you purchase an acne treatment cream, you must know which type of acne condition you are suffering from. To find that out, you need to consider whether you have inflammatory acne (papules, pustules, nodules, and cysts) or noninflammatory acne (whiteheads and blackheads). Typically, OTC (over-the-counter) products can treat noninflammatory acne, while inflammatory acne may require prescription treatment.

Severity of acne:

Next factor is to learn where your skin condition lies. If the acne is mild to moderate, you can easily treat it at home, however, if the condition is moderate to severe, you certainly need to be checked by a dermatologist for guidance on the best course of action.

The next factor to consider is your skin type. There are 4 skin types- oily, dry, normal, and combination/sensitive. Take into consideration that some acne treatments may be too harsh for sensitive skin, and ingredients like salicylic acid may be too drying for dry skin. Nevertheless, you can always incorporate it with other products to balance it. 

Underlying health conditions:

Before getting any skin products, it is also important that you get your health checked by a professional doctor to know if you have an underlying health condition. For example, certain ingredients like tretinoin are not recommended for use during pregnancy.

Healthy Habits To Follow To Prevent Acne Breakouts

Although acne treatments are effective, how you take care of your skin also matters. The following are some habits you can get into that will help you prevent acne-

Double Cleansing

Following the double cleansing routine is very important to follow, whether you have active acne or not. One of the main reasons acne is caused is by clogged hair follicles. Double cleansing your face regularly helps unclog them.

Regular facials

Getting regular facials by professional aestheticians can also be extremely effective in treating your acne, depending on the severity of your acne. Treatments like chemical peels, micro-needling, and microdermabrasion are popular in treating acne, acne scars, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

Moisturizing

Moisturizing is another very important step to add to your skincare routine. Keeping your face hydrated at all times helps in reducing inflammation and protects your skin from environmental stressors.

Are acne treatments safe during pregnancy?

The majority of the time, pregnancy is considered safe for antibiotics like such as azithromycin and clarithromycin, which are often used to heal acne. Active chemicals like salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and vitamin C, which you can find in most acne treatment creams are secure as well. However, ingredients like Retinol, Tazorac, and spironolactone are advised to avoid during pregnancy. Before utilizing any new acne remedies while pregnant, it is important to see your doctor.

What acne treatment is best for oily skin?

Finding acne treatments that are effective for your oily skin type won't be difficult. Look for ingredients like tea tree oil, retinol, benzoyl peroxide, Niacinamide, and salicylic acid.

What acne treatment is best for dry skin?

Although certain acne treatments can be drying, dry skin can still benefit from them. Your dry skin is bound to feel tight when using products that contain components like benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, and tretinoin. Nevertheless, combining these products with a good moisturizer can balance it. Don't forget the sunscreen!

What acne treatment is best for sensitive skin?

Low-concentration salicylic acid can be used in mild acne treatments for combination/sensitive skin types. We recommend using 0.5% salicylic acid, which will be safe and gentle without irritating the skin.

What do I do if I have a sudden acne breakout?

It is normal to face sudden acne breakouts, in a sense, many people face this situation. Many a time, it can be due to multiple reasons like changes in diet, hormones, unclean environment, etc. Here are a few tips that might help in preventing further breakouts, To stop the spread of germs, switch your pillowcase, Treat it using a spot treatment gel, Avoid touching your face with bare hands, Double cleanse. 

What are the best dermatologically-tested creams?

Most of the acne treatment creams from good brands are dermatologically tested. Some of the most effective treatments from the above list are Glyco 6, Kaya Purifying Nourisher, Tretinoin, Plum Green Tea Night Cream, The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%, Klairs Midnight Blue Calming Cream, and Re'equil Acne Clarifying Gel.

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Rashi Agrawal


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