Over the Counter Acne Medication

There are home remedies for acne and natural acne treatment. Both these could be good acne cures. But to use these, you may require some guidance from those who have the knowledge of these home remedies.

However, there is over the counter acne medication that is quite effective in most cases. You can acquire any of these without prescription and they are likely to be available at every pharmacy. There are also a few highly effective acne cure lotions that you can buy online.

The following is a list of over the counter acne medications and the effectiveness of each as an acne cure.

Benzoyl Peroxide

Benzoyl Peroxide is a very effective acne remedy for acne that is not severe or chronic. The medicine works by fighting the bacterium ‘propionibacterium acnes’ that promotes acne eruption and also by removing dead skin cells. Removing dead skin cells aids acne cure because when dead cell accumulate on the skin, it is making the ambience conducive to more acne growth.

Benzoyl Peroxide tends to dry the skin, and that is the main side effect of the medicine. Negative fallout can be minimized by not making this over the counter acne medication too strong. A 2.5% should suffice for good results. Benzoyl Peroxide has also got fabric bleaching properties. So clothes should be kept protected while using it.

Salicylic Acid

Salicylic acid works by causing the cells of the epidermis to be removed and thereby cleaning up the surface. This prevents the skin pores from getting clogged. Clogged pores, which helps to build up skin oil inside the pores is one of the conditions that promote acne growth. This acne medication is effective on both whiteheads and blackheads.

Unlike some of the other acne remedies, salicylic acid does not dry the skin, though sometimes a little skin irritation is possible. The medicine is available as soaked pads, and its chief ingredient is aspirin. It is considered safe and too few side effects have been noticed. Unless as guided by the physician, salicylic acid should not be used in combination with other acne treatments.

Resorcinol

Resorcinol is yet another acne cure that has been found to work. This can be used in combination with sulfur compounds. Resorcinol also, like salicylic acid, helps to prevent the pores getting clogged up. It has also the ability to break down the hard skin and remove the dead skin cells. Resorcinol cannot be used along with any astringents.

Alcohol and Acetone

Minimal side effects have been reported in the case of both alcohol and acetone. Alcohol has got antibacterial properties and can also remove excess oil from the skin surface. Acetone too has a similar oil-removing property. Both these work as acne medication though the effectiveness is low with both, mainly because it does not penetrate deep down into the skin where the sebum, or the skin oil that clogs the pore and contribute to acne formation, is situated. As a general skin care product both are good.

The acne medications that are bought over the counter should be used correctly according to instructions. Many of these work as a good acne cure. But they may not work for everyone and if the acne problem persists, the patient should seek other forms of acne help like prescription drugs or light treatment or laser treatment as suggested by a physician.

For the fastest and most effective acne cure, use some special acne cures that have been manufactured by specialized companies and that are designed to treat all types of acne. You can buy these online.