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Over the Counter Acne Treatments

There are several over the counter acne treatments, but as with anything, it's hard to know what's the best acne medication for you. Some treatments are very drying and some can be irritants. Everyone's skin is different and obviously some of us have more sensitive skin than others.

Here are a few of the over the counter acne treatments and how they work and their effectiveness.

Benzoyl Peroxide - Attacks the Bacteria

Benzoyl Peroxide attacks bacteria very well and it's one of the most widely used over the counter acne treatments. Benzoyl Peroxide works best for moderate to moderately severe acne such as acne vulgaris and inflammatory acne.

BP kills the bacteria that goes deep into the skin follicles which reduces the inflammation, loosening blackheads and whiteheads by drying and exfoliating the skin. Because you can apply it directly to the skin it can be even more effective than prescription antibiotics and you'll see faster results, but there is a down side. BP can be a skin irritant causing redness, drying and scaling, particularly on sensitive skin or have an allergy to BP in which case you should probably avoid BP, however for most people reactions to BP come from overuse.

Benzoyl peroxide is really a preventative agent and isn't going to help much once a pimple appears.

Apply BP once a day. Taking a preventative approach is key so use it even if your skin looks clear.

Benzoyl peroxide comes in several forms. Lotion, cream, soaps and cleansing lotions. You can also find it in concentrations of 2.5%, 5% and 10%.

Start with the lowest concentration of BP applying it once a day and work up to twice a day if there's no irritation. Spread evenly over your face. Note: the higher concentrations don't really have any better effect, however they are more irritating so you're better off using the lower concentration.

Most people with moderate to moderately severe acne will see results in about 4-12 weeks.

A regular tube of 2.5%, 5%, or 10% Benzoyl peroxide is typically less than $20 and will last on average a month.

Salicylic acid - The Skin Exfoliator

Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid which acts on your skin as a kind of skin exfoliator. It encourages the sloughing off of dead skin cells and the opening of clogged follicles and it can help prevent acne lesions. . It’s a safe, effective treatment for mild acne and oily skin.

How effective is Salicylic Acid?

Salicylic acid is fairly mild is acts only on the surface of the skin so it's not effective in destroying bacteria as Benzoyl peroxide is. However it is an effective over the counter acne treatment for keeping the sebaceous follicles free from dead skin cells and control the severity of new acne. It's also a good preparation for other treatments as it clears the skin first.

Side effects to Salicylic Acid

The most common side effects of salicylic are dryness and irritation. However dryness is fairly mild and generally applying a light oil-free moisturizer takes care of this problem. Irritation can be even more of a problem, even in low concentrations, however other products can enhance irritation so avoid using Salicyclic acid with things like abrasive or drying soaps, alcohol preparations or products with benzoyl peroxide, resorcinol, sulfur or vitamin a acid (tretinoin)

It increases skin's sensitivity to sunlight and has possible adverse effects include salicylate toxicity, toxic inner ear damage. Salicylic acid is typically found in over the counter acne treatment cleansers. It can also be founds in some soaps, scrubs, shampoos, etc. Use only as directed.

Cost of Salicylic Acid is less than $20

AHA's (Alpha Hydroxy Acid)

AHA's are natural acids that come from fruits, milk sugars, and plants. The two most common being glycolic acid and lactic acid (milder) exfoliates the very top layer of the skin, the part where dead skin cells accumulate, resulting in the fresh new layer of the skin.

You should not use AHAs on existing acne as it can irritate them and cause them to be more red, and bigger. AHAs in a cleanser are probably ineffective as it will probably be washed off before it has any time to act, much better if you bought a pH correct moisturizer or AHA gel which is a leave on.

It's best to look for an acne product with a glycolic acid concentration between 8 and 10% and no other active ingredients.

What are the risks or side effects of using AHA's?

Not all AHA products have FDA approval. You may also experience minor irritation and burning.

What is the cost of AHA's?

The cost is between a few dollars to more than $50.

You may also want to consider DermaNew Acne & Oil Clarifying System which is highly rated among its users of acne treatments. DermaNew Acne & Oil Clarifying System

Retinol

Retinol is a form of Vitamin A and is often thought of as an anti-aging treatment. Retinol is an over the counter acne treatment that is among the best products to combat future acne. It has also been known to reduce acne scars from past outbreaks.

Side effects of using Retinol include redness, skin feels warm and may have a stinging sensation. This things generally don't last as the skin adjusts however if they persist you should check with your doctor or dermatologist.

An acne treatment using retinol as the active ingredient will cost about $10 to $50.