 |
Over The Counter Acne Treatments - Do They Work?
Over the counter, sometimes referred to as otc for short,
products are starting to become an increasingly popular alternative
to prescription medication in the treatment of acne.
These products are readily available as you don't need a
prescription from your doctor to buy them and for people with mild
to moderate forms of acne the best over the counter treatments will
be just as effective as the more expensive prescribed ones.
Besides being cheaper, these products often have little, or no
side effects, in comparison to some of the highly publicised
prescribed antibiotic drugs used by doctors.
Although there are lots of over the counter acne products on
sale, really there are only two kinds of treatments available -
either medicated or natural. Both types utilise basically the same
technique by using a drying agent to exfoliate the skin and to
combat the acne and pimples.
Usually, in the case of a medicated product, this is either
benzoyl peroxide, salycic acid or glycolic acid. Natural products
tend to use combinations of ingredients and plant extracts like
vitamin E, tea tree oil, aloe vera, witch hazel, green tea extract,
cucumber etc.
There seems to be a growing number of different treatments but
usually over the counter products come in the form of topical
cleansers, soaps, washes, lotions, creams, gels or even pads and
patches that are applied onto the skin.
When using these kind of preparations it is important, that you
cover all of the area where you have acne because then you will
also be treating the hidden blemishes that you can't yet see as
well as the acne breakouts that you can.
Expect some trials and errors as you experiment with the
different treatments available, it may take you a while before you
find the right type or combination of products that work for you.
Whatever you do, don't use more than one treatment at a time,
particularly with medicated products, discontinue one before you
try out another.
When you are trying a new product give it enough time to start
working before discarding it to try something else. Typically you
may need to use it for six to eight weeks before you notice any
real progress but, of course, this depends upon the severity of
your acne and your skin type, some people see improvements after
only a few weeks.
After you have found the perfect skin care products that suit
you and are providing good results, you may find that you will need
to continue your treatments to keep your acne in check. This is
because acne is a chronic (meaning long-term) skin disorder and it
is possible that once you stop using your treatments the acne could
reoccur.
To get the best out of any over the counter acne products you
need to use them consistently and correctly. This may be common
sense but do read the labels and make sure you use them in line
with the instructions given! If you don't you risk causing damage
to your skin and doing more harm than good, this is especially true
if you have sensitive skin.
The over the counter products that are available, whether
medicated or natural, do successfully treat most forms of acne.
Unfortunately, there are always exceptions to the rule and there
are some types of acne that will not respond to these type of
treatments. If this happens to you and nothing you try is helping
your condition then seek the help of your doctor or
dermatologist.
MORE RESOURCES:
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Back to School With Clear
Skin
Backpack? Check. Notebooks? Check.
The Causes Of Acne And How To
Avoid Them
If you aren't a sufferer of the effects of acne, feel lucky. Acne
is one of the most common skin diseases in the United States,
affecting some 17 million people.
Effective Treatment Options
Available for Moderate to Severe Acne
Suffering from even a minor acne flair up can wreck your week, but
suffering from continual moderate to serious acne can ruin your
self esteem. There are options that can help you if you have
moderate to severe acne.
Birth Control Pill for
Acne
There are quite a few prescription medications used to combat acne,
but one of the most frequent choices for women is the use of a
birth control pill for acne. This approach can be used with
teenagers as well as adult women, but if you're a guy, you are out
of luck.
Dairy Products and the Possible
Effects Related to Acne
Continuing research into the causes of acne has brought to the
forefront information related to diet and acne. There is new
evidence that confirm the old wives tale of dairy and acne
breakouts.
Acne Treatments that
Work
Two of the best-known treatments for acne include phototherapy and
the Zen Med Derma Cleanse System.Let's take a closer look at how
both of these products treat acne.
6 Steps to Clear, Acne-Free
Skin
6 Steps to Clear, Acne-Free SkinHundreds of medications,
treatments, cleansers and cosmetics are available for people with
acne, but the most important elements of an acne-fighting program
won't cost you a cent.1.
What's The Best Way To Remove
Blackheads?
Blackheads are the slightly different sibling of zits, and like
zits, squeezing them can be addictive. Composed of the same oil, or
sebum, that contributes to the production of pimples, blackheads
result from a building up of this oil in pores - the difference in
appearance is the result of the blackhead's exposure to the air,
the reaction of which with the oil causes the trademark black color
of these blemishes.
Deep Peels for Acne: What it
feels like to get burned
There I was. I had paid just under $400 dollars to get a bright,
clear, zit and scar-free face.
Accutane Side Effects: Should
Depression Be A Concern?
Medical professionals and acne-pestered adolescents have no doubts
about the effectiveness of the severe acne drug isotretinoin. It's
the looming possibility of side effects such as depression and
fetal damage that makes people uneasy when considering using this
medication.
Control Your Acne With Effective
Acne Treatments
Acne is not a problem confined to adolescence; in fact, more than
sixty percent of the population is troubled with blackheads and
pimples well beyond the teen years. If acne is your problem, cheer
up.
Take Advantage of Natural Acne
Treatments
Let's face it. Nobody is really immune to having acne from time to
time.
All Natural Acne
Treatments
At some point in your life you will probably suffer from acne.
Almost everyone does.
Acne and Green Tea
Green tea is used by the Chinese as a traditional medicine to treat
many ailments including acne and to improve general well-being. But
does it provide an effective herbal alternative to modern
medication?The answer seems to be 'Yes'.
Acne Treatment Tips
Acne is a broad term which includes blemishes, blackheads, and
whiteheads. Acne can strike at any age.
The Many Benefits of
Microdermabrasion
There are numerous microdermabrasion benefits. One of the most
noteworthy advantages is that there is no downtime after treatment.
Acne Rosacea - A Blush You Can
Do Without
What do former presidents Bill Clinton and Boris Yeltsin have in
common? A condition called acne rosacea, a chronic inflammation of
the blood vessels in the skin, which causes a ruddy complexion and
small acne-like eruptions on the cheeks, forehead and nose.In men
it can often cause the skin on the nose to thicken and swell,
leading toa condition called rhinophyma.
Acne Program - Step 8 Vegetables
to Eat and Drink
Eating and drinking vegetables is necessary for good health and for
keeping your skin free from acne. Most people don't eat enough
vegetables and seldom drink their juices.
How to Eliminate Your Acne and
HAVE FUN at the Same Time!
Have you ever wondered why we have acne and even more on how we can
get rid of acne? Like a lousy tenant, acne doesn't pay you rent,
nor contribute anything beneficial to your life. It does however do
the opposite by destroying your skin and worst of all, your self
esteem and social life!Well, before embarking on this simple method
to destroy your acne for good, we need to know thy enemy.
Acne Program - Step 10: Vitamins
You Should Be Taking
VitaminsHere are some of the vitamins and minerals you should be
taking to help you get rid of acne.* B6, 25 - 150 mg in a B vitamin
complex* B5 pantothenic acid, 500 - 1000 mg per day* Vitamin A
(water soluble), 50,000 IU - take just before meals.
|
Google News
|
