Over The Counter Acne Medication
Acne cannot be treated carelessly. Each drug may have a different way of working to get rid of acne. The type of medication you need may be different from what others need, because the type of acne you and others may also be different. There are several brands of over the counter acne medication that you can buy, ranging from ointments to creams, from spot treatments to those that can be used all over the face.
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| Illustrative images (Source: acne.org) |
Although it can be bought without a doctor's prescription, we cannot be careless in using acne medicine without knowing its function, it is feared that the existing acne can become severe because our skin does not match the medicine used.
Over The Counter Medication For Acne
There are medical acne medications that can be purchased without a prescription, making them suitable for treating mild types of acne, such as whitehead and blackhead, and moderate acne. The average non-prescription acne medication includes topical types available in the form of creams, foams, soaps, gels, lotions, or ointments.
To avoid the side effects of acne medications on the skin, you can pay attention to these tips when you are going to buy medicines at the pharmacy, namely "Find Out the Active Content in the Product".
Different acne medicines, different ingredients. The difference in ingredients in each product will affect how the drug works in overcoming acne. For example, the content of Benzoyl Peroxide in acne drugs such as Benzolac 2.5%, Benzolac-CL, and OXY 10, works by stopping the growth of acne-causing bacteria, reducing inflammation, and overcoming clogged pores so as not to cause new acne. Another ingredient in acne medicine is Salicylic Acid which can help clean skin pores from acne causes, this ingredient also known as BHA is more suitable for dry skin owners who have acne problems due to clogged-prone.
The next active ingredient that is commonly used in OTC acne drugs is Tretinoin or also known as Retinoic Acid which has a similar way of working with Salicylic Acid in shedding dead skin cells. The difference is, Tretinoin also affects the growth of skin cells by helping the growth of new skin cells and increasing collagen production. The product with tretinoin ingredients that you can buy from pharmacies or drugstores is Vitacid. Other types of active ingredients that you can find in acne medications include Azelaic Acid, Sulfur, Antibiotics, and other options.
Here are the most commonly used non-prescription medications to treat acne:
- Benzoyl peroxide
Benzoyl peroxide is potent for those of you who have mild to moderate acne. Acne that is red inflamed can also be treated with benzoyl peroxide.
Benzoyl peroxide eliminates acne by killing acne-causing bacteria and preventing dead skin cells from clogging pores.
Drugs containing benzoyl peroxide are available in the form of creams, lotions, facial soaps, and gels in a concentration of 2.5-10 percent. Usually, the effect of the drug will take as early as 4 weeks to show the most optimal results.
Although it is quite effective for treating acne, also pay attention to the risk of side effects from the use of benzoyl peroxide. These chemicals can make dry skin reddish and feel hot, especially for owners of sensitive skin.
Also be careful when taking drugs containing benzoyl peroxide, as they can stain hair and clothing.
- Salicylic acid
Salicylic acid is the most common acne remedy. Rough skin problems due to blackheads or sand pimples that are small in size can also be treated with salicylic acid. Salilisic acid can help speed up the process of forming new skin cells.
In addition, the drug is recommended to clean pores so that they do not clog and cause acne or blackheads in the future. Unlike benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid does not affect the production of sebum and does not kill bacteria.
Salicylic acid is available in various forms of products such as lotions, creams, and facial cleansing liquids with concentrations between 0.5-5 percent. The drug needs to be used regularly on an ongoing basis so as not to stimulate blackheads and acne to reappear.
Side effects that can occur from the use of this drug include skin irritations such as hives, red skin, and dry skin.
- Sulfur and resorcinol
In some acne medications, sulfur content is usually found alongside resorcinol. Both have different ways of working, which when combined can be effective in treating acne.
Sulfur treats acne by reducing excess oil production and clearing clogged pores. Meanwhile, resorcinol helps prevent the onset of blackheads in the future by removing dead skin cells.
Acne medications containing two combinations of these substances are usually available in the form of creams, lotions, soaps, shampoos, liquids, or gels with a dose of 2% sulfur and 5-8% resorcinol.
It is important to understand that the use of sulfur and resorcinol can cause side effects in the form of skin irritation, especially if your skin is sensitive. Irritation side effects can usually subside as your body adjusts to the remedy.
Hopefully, this information about "over the counter acne medication" will be useful for you in treating acne.