Over the Counter Acne Medications

With so may over the counter acne treatments and products spread out over pharmacy shelves it may be difficult to determine which one is best for you.

There are several acne products out there which will treat mild to heavy acne or even periodic breakouts. However, simply reaching out and grabbing the first acne product you encounter may not improve your condition. It is important to learn about how over the counter acne products work and about their ingredients.

How Acne Generally Develops

Sebaceous glands secrete an oily substance know as sebum through your hair follicles. The sebum’s primary function is to lubricate your hair and skin. It travels up the hair shaft and out through the opening of the hair follicle on to the surface of the skin.

Your body can produce and excess of sebum which can then accumulate in the hair follicle. This along with dead skin cells can then cause a soft plug. As this plug enlarges the hair follicle wall can rupture.  This can then allow more skin cells and oil to get trapped and gather. Bacteria can then cause an infection which in turn will cause inflammation and lead to acne.

How Acne Products Work

A number of over the counter acne products work by killing Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes). This bacterium is what primarily causes infections to accumulated sebum and dead skin cells. Consequently, those infections are what cause acne inflammation.

Other products also expedite the growth of new skin cells and the removal of dead ones. Removing and lowering the levels of excess oil is also common amongst some products and minimizes the chances of infection.

Active Ingredients
Depending on a products active ingredient acne treatments will function in different ways. Below you will see a list of the most common active ingredients, how they function, and how they cure acne problems.

•    Salicylic Acid – This ingredient is one of the most effective in preventing acne. It prevents pores from clogging by slowing down the rate in which cells are shed inside the hair follicle. It can also break down clogged pores that have no opening (also known as whiteheads) and can help break down open pores which have a dark surface (also known as blackheads). The amount of Salicylic acid’s found within acne medication can range from 0.5 to 2 percent. It is important to follow recommended dosages and number of applications when using products containing this compound as it can cause skin irritation and mild stinging.

•    Benzoyl Peroxide – Another highly effective and strong ingredient in acne products. This compound kills the P. acnes bacteria, gets rid of dead skin cells, and helps to remove excess oils from the skin. Benzoyl Peroxide comes in strengths ranging from 2.5 to 10 percent. It is important to administer acne products which use this compound well as it can cause redness, scaling, excessive dryness, and minor swelling. This compound can also make your skin more sensitive to UV rays so you must be cautious with ultraviolet exposure.

•    Sulfur and Resorcinol – These two compounds are generally used together in acne products. The primary function of sulfur and resorcinol is to remove excess oil and dead skin cells which clog pores. It may also help to breakdown blackheads and whiteheads. However, these compounds cans cause irritation, redness, and skin peeling. These side effects can manifest themselves several days after using products with these composites.

•    Lactid Acid - This component gives your skin a deep exfoliating clean. It also provides crucial all-natural skin restorers to keep you skin healthy and clean.

•    Alcohol and Acetone – These are other compounds that are used to clean you skin by removing oil and dirt. Products which use these two ingredients can cause stinging sensations and mild burning.

•    Glycolic Acid – Moisturizing your skin is also crucial in the fight against acne. It helps your skin maintain balance, improve appearance, and helps fight the effects of aging. Lots of moisturizers will actually clog the pore and can make breakouts worse. Glycolic acid is a moisturizer and a powerful exfoliating agent. This therefore prevents pores from getting clogged and gives you smoother skin. As this compound also helps reduce unwanted oils on your skin it can help fight acne and is perfect for people with oily skin.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 29th, 2009 at 10:19 am and is filed under Articles. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.