You can find many types of acne remedies that can be purchased over the counter. Most folks, when dealing with an acne problem, well first of all stop by their local pharmacy to purchase an over-the-counter acne remedy. This is usually done on a recommendation from a friend or maybe even an ad they saw on TV.
However the best thing you can do for yourself is to consult with a health care practitioner before attempting to self medicate. Even though most acne is a condition that is fairly benign, your doctor will advise you on an acne product or acne skin care products that best suit you. Your health care practitioner may also offer advice and treatment suggestions based on the type of acne you are suffering with.
Most of us find it difficult to decide on the acne product to use to treat our acne. This is because there are many products on the market for treating acne. Advice from friends may or may not be reliable. This is because every skin condition is unique and what works for one person may not work for another.
The best thing for you to do is to gather knowledge concerning acne care and the active ingredients available in acne medications. This will enable you to make a more informed decision concerning the type of acne solution or medication to use.
One of the most effective and popular ingredients found in acne solutions is benzoyl peroxide. With my son's condition we have found that a solution containing 10% benzoyl peroxide was the most effective and one of the best acne skin care products. It can be found in various acne gel, acne lotions or cleansers and works by eliminating the bacteria which can cause acne whiteheads and acne blackheads commonly known as pimples. Products containing benzoyl peroxide are in my opinion, the best skin care line for acne.
Benzoyl peroxide is also very effective for removing your dead skin cells. These accumulate on your skin and can result in the development of pimples. These dead skin cells combine together with your bodies? naturally occurring sebum resulting in whiteheads and blackheads.
Benzoyl peroxide has also been shown to be effective and safe in fighting lesions. You can also use it after your acne has cleared up to keep your skin free from the bacteria that causes acne. The one and only side effect that may be associated with using it is dry skin. Dried skin can be avoided by cutting back on the frequency of use. Care must be taken to keep benzoyl peroxide from hair and clothing because it can act as a bleach.
Salicylic acid is another ingredient that has been found to be successful in acne medications. With my son's condition we found that a solution containing 2% salicylic acid works well. The salicylic acid also works to clear up your dead skin cells which tend to clog your pores. As with benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid should continue to be used on your skin after your acne has cleared up. This may prevent outbreaks of acne from occurring. Again the only side effect may be irritated and dry skin.
[As an aside, Proactiv or Proactive Solution being pushed by so called ?stars? on TV, contains only 2% benzoyl peroxide and no salicylic acid. In my son's case, we used Proactiv Solution for 3 months with absolutely no results. My opinion and just MY opinion? - JUNK!]
Some of the other ingredients you may find in acne medications may include sulfur and resorcinol. Resorcinol may cause the top layer of your skin to begin to peel. This peeling will also remove the dead skin cells which clog your pores. Rresorcinol is often times combine with the ingredient sulfur.
The way that sulfur affects your acne condition is not known, however sulfur has be used with success on acne conditions for more than 50 years. In addition to resorcinol, sulfur may be combined with other ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid. Most times you will not find sulfur being used by itself because of its unpleasant and strong odor.
Of all the ingredients we have mentioned for fighting acne, the ingredient benzoyl peroxide might be the most versatile and one of the best acne treatment over-the-counter. You will find it used in a number of different products from acne cleansers to cleansing bars. You will also find it in acne creams, lotions, and gels that are directly applied to your skin. You usually use these products once or twice per day.
These acne skincare products should be applied on and around your acne pimples and surrounding areas for maximum effectiveness. However try to keep from getting benzoyl peroxide in your eyes, nose and mouth is this might cause inflammation or irritation of these areas.
The number of over-the-counter products available for the prevention and treatment of acne are numerous. Some of these products have been developed to reduce the chances of the development of acne by including substances designed to unclog the pores. There are also cleansers, which are designed to do a simple job - cleanse the skin and remove excess oils and dirt to help control breakouts. While it's true that some over-the-counter products are somewhat helpful for the treatment of acne, it's also true that some of these could harm your skin.
Among the most popular products used to cleanse the skin is soap. Although this product might be helpful for some people, it also can aggravate the acne afflicted areas depending on your skin type, skin sensitivity, and actual acne condition. So, if you plan to use a cleanser it is very important that you get one that will work best with your skin type, skin sensitivity, and acne condition. This will help you avoid further irritation to your skin and will promote faster healing. For instance, if your skin is oily, it is recommended you use soaps that are practically oil-free, as products containing a substantial amount of oil will add oil to your skin, causing the pores to become clogged and subsequent breakouts to occur. On the other hand, if you have sensitive skin, you'd better stay away from fragrant soaps for the chemicals in them can cause breakouts too.
Another popular over-the-counter product that can cause negative effects on your acne condition is cosmetics. It has been reported that certain makeup products contain chemicals that can cause breakouts. This is due to the clogging of the pores and irritation of the skin produced by these products. So, if you didn't know about this, you might want to find out what is in your cosmetic products from now on. This is especially true in the case that recently you've been suffering more breakouts than normal or if you've been feeling something is irritating your skin. The answer to all of this might be in your cosmetics. Nowadays, you can easily find lots of information about the cosmetic products you buy - about its ingredients, what they should be used for, and even the skin type it works best on! With all this information, there's no reason why you shouldn't find some good cosmetics for your skin. However, you must get those that won't worsen your acne. The recommended cosmetics for acne sufferers are cosmetics that are non-cometigenic. These cosmetics won't clog your pores.
Again, keep in mind to always choose your acne products carefully. If you'd like to be consistent, you might even want to try sticking to one brand for your daily regimen. When you use a specific line of products that has been designed to work together it will help you promote healing and prevention in the same way. Avoid harsh, over-the-counter products that can irritate your skin. And don't forget that, in case any product irritates your skin simply stop its use immediately and find one that doesn't. As an ultimate solution, consult a physician if the use of over-the-counter hygiene products isn't doing the trick.
When washing your skin, always do it gently. But never over wash your skin as this can cause it to become irritated and breakouts to occur. No matter how hard you try but simply over washing your skin will not remove any more dirt and oil but will only cause irritation. Also, stop squeezing your pimples. The only thing you'll accomplish if you pinch your pimples is to cause the bacteria to go deeper within the skin. And this in turn will cause the area around the pimple to become irritated and inflamed. To alleviate the problem and bring out the pus, the best solution is to cleanse the area and use a toner instead.
Both Alien & Rotce H. are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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