Acne Gel

Over-The-Counter Acne Products Compared – How Do Non-Prescription Acne Treatments Work?

Buying an acne product at the beauty counter or drugstore is not as easy as it seems. With so many anti-acne soaps, creams, lotions and gels you can buy over-the-counter, choosing one can be pretty problematic. Besides the pretty boxes and catchy come-ons that all scream ‘buy me!’, you can never know for sure which ones actually work. A quick way to know if an acne product is worth your money is by looking at its active ingredients. Most reliable over-the-counter acne products contain benzoyl peroxide, salicyclic acid, alpha hydroxy acids, sulfur and resorcinol, and tea tree oil. Here’s a rundown of how these ingredients work:

Benzoyl Peroxide

Clearasil, PanOxyl, ProActiv and ZapZyt are just some of the popular acne products that contain benzoyl peroxide (BP). And for good reason too – it kills the bacteria that makes pimples red and ugly. It also helps remove dead skin cell buildup and excess oil that causes acne. A word of warning though – BP can be pretty harsh on the skin and cause irritation, peeling and redness.

Salicylic Acid

Another regular among acne products is salicylic acid (SA). This beta-hydroxy acid helps loosen up buildup at the pores, which makes it easier for other ingredients (like BP) to do their work. By itself it does a good job of clearing up whiteheads and blackheads. Some people prefer products with SA because it is less irritating than BP. Popular products with SA include Clean & Clear’s Clear Advantage Acne Spot Treatment, Neutrogena’s Rapid Clear Acne Eliminating Spot Gel, and L’Oreal’s Acne Response line.

Alpha Hydroxy Acids

You can see alpha hydroxyl acids (or AHAs) in a lot of beauty products. Like their cousin SA, AHAs loosen up clogged pores and are particularly effective against mild acne. As a bonus they can also make pimples less conspicuous by helping reduce redness as well as acne scars. Some of the products with AHAs include Bliss’ Change Your Spots Acne Gel, Murad’s Post Acne Spot Lightening Gel, and Pronexin.

Sulfur and Resorcinol

Like SA and AHAs, sulfur and resorcinol work by peeling away dead skin cells that clog the pores and cause acne. They are also good at clearing up whiteheads and blackheads. Sulfur can smell too strong in some products, though, and resorcinol can be irritating to those with sensitive skin. Clearasil’s Adult Care Tinted Acne Cream, Adult Acnomel Tinted Cream, and Glytone’s Flesh Tinted Acne Treatment Lotion are some of the over-the-counter acne products that have sulfur or resorcinol.

Tea Tree Oil

More and more beauty and skin brands are turning to tea tree oil (TTO) as a natural and organic acne solution. And it’s not just mere gimmickry too – TTO works just as effectively as BP in killing pimple-causing bacteria and clearing up mild to moderate acne. Popular brands with TTO include The Body Shop’s Tea Tree Oil line and DDF’s Benzoyl Peroxide Gel 5% with Tea Tree Oil.

Whatever the over-the-counter product you choose, you should keep in mind that most of these work best only for mild to moderate types of acne. To learn more about the Best Acne treatment for your acne type, you can consult a dermatologist or read other user’s experiences from acne treatment reviews online.

About the Author

Andi Allegre is a blogger, freelance writer, and skin care addict guilty of spending more than half her income on beauty and skin products. Once an acne-riddled teenager herself, she has found salvation with the help of acne treatment reviews and is happy to do her share of ridding the world of acne, one pimple at a time. Visit AcneTreatmentReviews.com to learn more about the best acne treatments for your acne type.

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