The Hidden Cost of Acne Treatments: Time
As anyone who has used the typical acne treatment systems knows, it’s not easy staying clear. These multi-step kits can be expensive, they seldom work right away, and many of them require additional products on top of the core steps if you want to see “best results”. Even when they do work, maintaining clear skin can prove to be quite a hassle.
Most systems today copy the Proactiv 3-step model, including a cleanser, lotion and toner or spot treatment. However, some don’t stop there, with several kits going as far as 7 steps to try and cover all the bases. When considering these products, most people just look at the price tag, ignoring the time and hassle that using these treatments can cost you.
Almost all topical acne treatments need to be applied 2-3 times per day. That means slathering on 3+ different products up to 3 times every day. You can easily end up spending an extra hour (or more!) in the bathroom just treating your face. For some people that may not be a big deal, but for many (especially us guys) it’s simply more trouble that the often underwhelming results are worth.
The time issue also directly impacts how many users see improvement, as the more trouble a treatment is to apply, the more likely users are to quit before the ingredients really kick in. And can you really blame them? Using an acne treatment shouldn’t have to be something that you plan your day around.
Even single-step products can be deceptive. Consider thermal devices such as Zeno. Not having to use a plethora of different products is great, but when you have to apply the device to each individual pimple for several minutes, multiple times per day, the cost in time can add up fast.
So what is the answer? In terms of convenience, oral acne vitamins definitely score some points. Many users will still need to take them multiple times per day, but the simple fact is that gulping a pill or drinking mix takes less time than applying creams, and you don’t have to visit the bathroom to do it. Just gulp it and forget it. The downside is that internal treatments can sometimes take longer initially to see results, but since those results are longer lasting, it’s a tradeoff worth taking.
