Modern medicine has brought us such miracles as an aids vaccine, and the telescopic eye, yet, it seems like scientists have overlooked the small potatoes, like acne treatments. Acne is something we have all had to deal with, and something we all equally dislike. It has ruined numerous dates and countless photographs. For some, acne has even left deep scarring and tissue damage due to cysts. The lack of effective acne treatments on the market today, and the lack of consumer knowledge has left a void that scam artists have filled with great marketing and cheap, ineffective products.

Gimmick #1: The 3-day Natural Cure.

Most acne products base their advertising on the feeling of helplessness. They know that most people who are willing to try their acne treatments, have tried others in the past with, odds are, less then stellar results. The 3-day natural cure e-book’s technique involves eating apples, and drinking plenty of water. That’s it, just apples and water. I’m sure you can imagine how upsetting it must have been for those that actually bought the e-book.

Gimmick #2: Exaggerated Success Rate

Accutane, one of the most prescribed acne medications dominated the market for years. Thousands of people with acne subscribed to the idea, and promise that Accutane will clear their breakouts while providing effective, long-term acne prevention. Shockingly enough, the rate of success for Accutane is only 50%. Wait, 50%?!?! That’s almost as effective as those magnetic bracelets that they sell on late-night infomercials. To add insult to injury, Accutane also has horrible side-effects including: weak skin, Alopecia, depression, suicidal tendencies, birth defects, miscarriages, back pain, joint pain, dry mucus membranes, pink eye, dryness of the eye, vision problems, ringing in the ear, psychosis, and many many more. In fact, there have been hundreds of lawsuits against the maker of accutane because of these dangerous side-effects.

Gimmick #3: Patented Ingredients:

The FDA requires all manufacturers to disclose, on the product label, the contents or ingredients of the product. One way to work around ingredient disclosure is the ever-popular “patented ingredient”. An acne treatment company will often time patent an ingredient to sell something that isn’t really what they say it is. This is strictly a shady sales technique, and patented ingredients should be avoided at all costs. The Bottom line is that however you decide to treat your acne, keep common sense in mind. Med Spas and commercials that offer miracles are often times just trying to take your money without any regard for your own health or well-being. Acne treatments should be taken seriously, and if you want results, you should make sure you see a medical professional.