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A Short Guide To Over-The-Counter Acne Treatments

By: Sarah Carter

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These days there are are large number of over-the-counter acne treatments available to buy. The majority of people, when they notice that they have an acne condition, choose a trip to their local pharmacist and get their over-the-counter acne treatment based on recommendations from family, friends or advertisements in the media. It's usually best, however, to get professional advice from a doctor or dermatologist before starting to use any over-the-counter treatments. Even though it is not a life-threatening condition, a professional will be able to give you advice on the best type of treatments and can give you some suggestions depending on the particular type of acne you have.
Because there are so many products available for treating acne, this can mean that it is difficult to decide which treatment to opt for. Relying only on advice from friends or family is not a very good idea, since what works for one person's acne may not work for yours. It's a good idea to have a little background information about the different active ingredients found in the numerous acne medications, to enable you to make a more well-informed decision on which treatment to try.
One of the best-known and most often-used ingredients found in acne medications is benzoyl peroxide. It is often used in ointments and gels and works by attacking the bacteria which are involved in forming acne. It can also remove the dead skin cells which can build up on the skin's surface.
Benzoyl peroxide has been tested and has been found to be a safe and effective treatment. It can also be applied after the breakouts have subsided to help keep the skin free of the acne-causing bacteria. The only real side effect which is experienced with this treatment is getting dry skin, which can largely be avoided simply by reducing the frequency with which it is applied to your skin. It's worth noting that it can also bleach clothing and hair, so you need to be careful when you are applying it.
A second popular ingredient which is often found in acne treatments is salicylic acid. This treats the acne by treating the shedding of skin cells which are building up too fast and blocking the pores. Treatments containing salicylic acid need to be used after the breakouts have cleared up in order to stop future episodes of acne. The few side effects which are experienced with salicylic acid are irritated and dry skin.
Other different ingredients found in acne medications include sulphur and resorcinol. Resorcinol makes the top layer of the skin peel, and this includes the dead skin cells which can block the skin's pores. It is frequently used in combination with sulphur. The mechanism of how sulphur treats acne is not known, but it has been in use for over half a century. It is frequently combined with ingredients other than resorcinol, e.g. benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid.
Benzoyl peroxide is probably the treatment which is the most versatile. It is used in cleansing liquids, creams, lotions and gels for topical application onto the skin.

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