It Is The Active Ingredient That Works On Your Acne, Not The Brand Name

The Top 5 Over The Counter Medications Ingredients For Acne Treatment

There are numerous over the counter treatments, and many of them are effective for a large number of people, but no treatment works for everyone all the time. The severity of your acne, as well as your complexion, will determine the best treatment for you. Certain complexions are irritated by some treatments and even cause skin to become discolored, which seems to be most common among people of Asian descent.

This guide will refer to the active ingredient of acne treatments rather than brand name since it is the ingredient and not the brand that works to clear your acne. Some of these ingredients can be found in different forms (wipes, peels, washes, etc.), and each form may have slightly different properties. Care must be taken if one is to use more than one acne treatment at a time, as skin irritation is likely, as well as a reaction from mixing different active ingredients.

Benzoyl Peroxide

This is one of the most popular over the counter acne treatments, and is the active ingredient to Oxy and Clearasil. Benzoyl Peroxide has been used for acne for several decades and is effective because it kills the bacteria living underneath your skin, as well as drying the skin and preventing your pores from becoming clogged. Benzoyl Peroxide is commonly applied with a cotton ball or rubbing an Oxy pad over your face, which also helps remove excess dirt and grime.

Benzoyl Peroxide can be effective in treating acne if used alone or in combination with several other acne treatments.

Salicylic Acid

Salicylic acid can help clear your complexion by exfoliating your skin, or removing dead skin cells. Exfoliating can unclog pores, as well as preventing pores from becoming clogged. However, exfoliating, especially if you do it too often, can irritate your skin since you are essentially removing the outer layer of skin. For the same reason, exfoliating can increase your sensitivity to sunlight and leave you vulnerable to skin damage from UV rays.

Salicylic acid has a reputation for irritating skin, and some sources do not recommend using salicylic on your face, but instead using it to combat stubborn back acne and acne that appears in areas with thick skin.

Glycolic Acid

This acid is somewhat gentle, and actually helps to revive dry, damaged skin. In fact, many people report that glycolic acid has removed or lessened their acne scarring and age lines. Glycolic acid treatments can be found as a lotion or as a peel that is applied to the face and removed after a period of time.

Many people claim that Glycolic acid is the answer to their acne problems, and other say that it makes their acne worse. It should be noted that Glycolic acid actually increases skin moisture by up to 300% in some cases. This is one reason that Glycolic acid can heal dry skin and remove acne scarring. However, people with oily skin seem to see little effect, and many users say that your acne will appear to get a little worse before it gets better. Other people claim that glycolic acid has a discoloring effect.

Sulfur

Sulfur is another longtime acne cure that has proved to be very effective. Sulfur helps clear acne in two ways. First, the sulfur removes dead skin cells, allowing your pores to breathe and unclog themselves. Sulfur also promotes the natural healing process, which helps your skin stay healthy. Instead of applying sulfur directly to your face, it is preferable to find a treatment that incorporates sulfur, such as cleansing wipes or a facial peel. Some sulfur treatments also incorporate anti-bacterial ingredients to fight p. acnes, or anti-inflammatory ingredients to reduce swelling and redness.

As with any acne treatment, there is a risk of your skin getting too dry, but for the most part, sulfur is free from serious side effects. However, sulfur can interact with certain medications, and cannot be used in addition to other acne treatments like benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid.

Azelaic Acid

Azelaic acid has been found to be useful in the treatment of mild to moderate acne, and is applied topically as a lotion. Azelaic acid concentration in these lotions is typically 20%. Azelaic acid fights acne by removing dead cells and unclogging pores, as well as killing p. acnes with its antibacterial properties, and can even reduce inflammation.

Although Azelaic acid is not the strongest acne treatment, its only side effect is skin irritation. Azelaic acid does not increase sensitivity to the sun, and does not stain skin or clothing. However, Azelaic acid can irritate the skin, so care should be taken not to use Azelaic acid too often or too much at a time.

No matter how severe your acne is, there is a treatment option that will work for you. Your skin type and acne type will determine what treatments are effective and which have little effect. For most people, using some type of over the counter acne treatment will improve their skin, although it may not clear their acne altogether. Keep researching and carefully trying different treatments. And remember that while looks do play a role in life, (Whether we want to admit it or not.) you are much more than just your skin. If you have any doubts or any real concerns, you need to check with a medical specialist

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