Who wouldn't love a hero? Who wouldn't be able to love someone or something that's willing and able to help you out of trouble? Then again, what if the nemesis at hand is face-scarring and social-life-threatening acne? Could there be a hero created by the medicine industry with the power to defeat this long familiar enemy of beauty conscious individuals?

No acne medicine is thoroughly effective for everyone. What works for another may not be as effective for you. This could be due to a number of factors: skin type difference, how serious the condition at hand is, and even a person's lifestyle.

There are certain acne medicine products that may not be purchased without a doctor's prescription. Even if you find a way of purchasing it without your doctor's permission, it's still for your own good if you consult your doctor regarding the acne medicine product before using it.

Topical Antimicrobials – These acne medicine products work by attacking the bacteria causing acne to appear on the surface. As the term “topical” suggests, they are applied directly to your skin.

Topical Retinoid – This type of acne medicine product mainly uses vitamin A to unclog pores and minimize production of whiteheads and blackheads. This product however may cause a person to suffer skin irritation problems as well as heightened sensitivity to sun exposure.

Oral Antibiotics – Yes, it's possible indeed that you can cure yourself from acne through oral medication. It's imperative however that you use the right dosage or risk having your body immune to the medicine's effects.

Oral Contraceptives – Although this has been effective in treating acne, remember that it was not primarily intended for such use. As a result, manufacturers hadn't concentrated in ensuring that their products don't have any side effects when used for treating acne.

On the other hand, there are readily available acne medicine products being sold in drug stores and which don't require a prescription from your doctor. Be sure to read the instructions carefully to ascertain that you're not at risk of suffering from any side effects.

Benzoyl Peroxide – This is one of the most popular OTC acne medicine products being used. It may however cause a slightly painful sensation when being applied. It may also cause your skin to become dry and your hair bleached so care must be exercised when using it.

Salicylic Acid – This ingredient can be found in numerous types of OTC acne medicine products and in various forms such as creams, lotions, and even pads. It is only effective however in treating mild cases of acne.

Resorcinol – This ingredient is not as popular as the two previous OTC acne medicine solutions discussed. Nevertheless, resorcinol is able to effectively treat mild acne and in mitigating blackhead and whitehead production.

Sulfur – This is another lesser-known ingredient found in several OTC acne medicine products in spite of the fact that it has been used for more than half a century already.

Herbal Medications – Be wary when using herbal medications to treat acne because many herbal acne medicine products have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration.