What is the best over the counter acne treatment product? You might look at all the products available and feel slightly overwhelmed. There are so many over the counter acne treatment options, you might not know where to begin when it comes to select the best product. You will need to choose a product based upon your skin condition, your skin sensitivity level, and the potential reasons why you have acne eruptions forming on your skin.
If you are dealing with mild acne eruptions, sometimes called grade 1 acne formations, you can often use affordable, conservative at home treatment methods. Many over the counter acne treatment options can deal with the occasional, mild acne outbreak. In fact, if you notice you have mild acne, you should deal with the issue immediately: this will prevent the likelihood that your condition will become more severe or even chronic.
Acetone/Alcohol OTC Options
Many over the counter acne treatment options contain acetone and/or alcohol. Both help to clear away dead skin cells, to diminish the presence of oils in and on the skin, and they also help in pour tightening. Alcohol also helps in the destruction of acne-causing bacteria, while acetone works as an oil remover. These ingredients are often included in cleansers, astringents, skin clarifiers, and toners. Bear in mind however, the products containing alcohol or acetone may not always prove ideal for anyone with skin sensitivity.
Benzoyl Peroxide OTC Options
Some of the leading acne control products include an ingredient identified as Benzoyl Peroxide, which works best for inflamed acne. These products include over the counter acne treatments like MD Formulations, Glytone Gel, Benzaderm, and Proactive. You can also find a number of generic products with Benzoyl Peroxide as the active ingredient; the ingredient is commonly added to things like topical creams, lotions, and facial cleansers. Most products have anywhere between 2.5 and 10 percent Benzoyl Peroxide in them. Benzoyl Peroxide destroys the Propionibacteria acne that causes eruptions. It diminishes inflammatory conditions, cleans out the pores, and it also has a drying effect that diminishes excessive oils in and on the skin. In addition to causing dryness and peeling, Benzoyl Peroxide might also make your skin more sensitive to the sun, so it’s important that you wear sunscreen every day.
Salicylic Acid OTC Options
Another of the common over the counter acne treatment ingredients is identified as Salicylic Acid. Like Benzoyl Peroxide, this product dries the skin and gets rid of accumulated skin cells and/or oils. This ingredient proves best if used to deal with wnon-inflamed pimples, blackheads and whiteheads. It is offered in 0.5 to 2 percent strengths in treatment pads, lotions, and cleansers, and you will find it in over the counter acne treatment products like Dermalogica Gel, Noxzema Pads, Noxzema Gel, Stridex, and Oxy acne fighting products.
Sulfur and Resorcinol OTC Options
Some over the counter acne treatment products have Resorcinol and sulfur in their list of active ingredients. Usually, you can get OTC products containing anywhere from 2 to 8 percent of these two ingredients combined. Sulfur helps in drying the skin to reduce excessive oils and Resorcinol diminishes the presence of excessive skin cells. Together, they offer a powerful defense against acne formations and you will find these types of ingredients in things like Glytone Lotion, Razamid, Clearasil Blemish Sticks, and Clearasil creams.
