The Best Over The Counter Acne Treatment

Of all the various types of acne treatment, the best over the counter acne treatment has by far been…

Benzoyl Peroxide.

However, it doesn’t mean that benzoyl peroxide works for everyone.

So before you hit the stores and buy up the latest touted over the counter acne treatment, it helps to understand how OTC acne products work and what you should look out for.

The Best Over The Counter Acne Treatment Product

Typically, over-the-counter acne treatments come in different forms.

  • Spot treatments
  • Cleansers and washes
  • Moisturizers
  • Lotions
  • Pads and Wipes
  • And many others

Most of these products have an active ingredient that works on acne infected skin to clear up the blemishes. Depending on the type of active ingredient used, each acne treatment product works in different ways.

For example, some products clear acne by going after the acne causing bacteria (Propionibacterium acnes) and killing it. This particular bacteria causes inflammation and killing it off removes the cause of acne.

Some other products work by removing excess oil from the skin as the oil can clog up your skin pores and cause inflammation. These products tend to cause your skin to dry and become irritable. Yet other products work by removing dead skin cells and causing new skin cells to grow and replace the old ones.

Common Active Ingredients in OTC Acne Treatment Products

#1: Benzoyl Peroxide

The most common and probably most effective active ingredient is benzoyl peroxide. It not only kills off P. acnes, it also helps to remove excess oils that may clog up your pores. Benzoyl peroxide comes in varying levels of concentration, from 2.5% to 10%.

Depending on the sensitivity of your skin, it is best to start with the mildest and work your way up the concentration levels if milder forms don’t work. However, you do need to take note that benzoyl peroxide is not without its drawbacks.

When used excessively, benzoyl peroxide can cause skin to be dry, scale, become red or even itchy and sting. Despite all these, benzoyl peroxide has proven to be very likely the most effective acne treatment for the majority.

#2: Salicylic Acid

The next active ingredient used in over the counter acne treatments is salicylic acid. How does salicylic acid work? It helps to prevent your skin pores from clogging by slowing down the shedding of cells inside your hair follicles.

It can also help to break down the pimples (or whiteheads) that form on your skin as well as clear up blackheads. They come in concentration levels of between 0.5% to 2%, and can cause your skin to experience mild stinging or even skin irritation.

#3: Alpha Hydroxyl Acids

The third common active ingredient in over the counter acne treatment products are alpha hydroxyl acids. Alpha hydroxyl acids work by removing dead skin cells from your skin and also help to reduce any inflammation.

The use of this active ingredient also helps to stimulate new skin growth, making your skin look and feel smoother. This can be helpful in easing scarring that is sometimes caused by acne.

#4: Sulfur

Another active ingredient that helps to remove excess oil from your skin as well as getting rid of dead skin cells is sulfur. This ingredient is hardly used in isolation. When blended in combination with the other active ingredients mentioned earlier, you get a product that works in various ways to clear your skin from acne.

However, sulfur does have an unpleasant odor and may cause you to have dry skin as well.

The Best Over The Counter Acne Treatment Product

If you are already aware of the cause of your acne, it is much easier to choose the best over the counter acne treatment product. However, in most cases, benzoyl peroxide has been the most widely effective of all the acne treatments that work  for acne sufferers.

When you are starting your acne clearing treatment, you can start by using acne products that contain benzoyl peroxide as the active ingredient. However, it is advised that you start with mild concentrations and observe how your skin reacts to it.

If there are no adverse reactions, you can continue using acne products containing benzoyl peroxide and increasing strength if you see no improvement levels.

Regardless, remember not to over apply any acne treatment product as your skin may suffer from excessive use. Always use enough to cover the infected area and follow the instructions on the product package.

When it comes to choosing the best over the counter acne treatment product, remember that clearing your acne takes patience. You may see results within a day, but sometimes it comes over a period of a week or two.