Skin Care Products & Articles

The volume of products which have been developed for combating acne are mind-boggling. Your local skin store probably stocks hundreds of acne creams, cleansers, and scrubs. You can imagine how difficult it must be for someone just starting to treat their acne to navigate the shelves for the right product. Even acne veterans can have a difficult time deciding between two products at the store. You often see people turn to a dermatologist to evade confusion. What these people find is that dermatologists have their own supply of prescription medications which be vast and equally perplexing. In an effort to remove the confusion surrounding both over the counter and prescription acne medications, we have provided an explanation of how the active ingredients in these products work below.

Let’s begin our discussion with over the counter products. A quick examination of the product label for a popular acne cream should reveal that it contains benzoyl peroxide. Most acne products contain the same active ingredient. This additive is designed to accomplish two tasks. For one, it takes care of the p. acnes bacteria which influence the development of inflamed lesions. Next, it helps improve skin cell turnover so pores don’t become clogged with contaminants.

Benzoyl peroxide is available in three concentrations: 2.5%, 5%, and 10%. While one is naturally inclined to think that the higher the concentration, the more potent the results, the case with benzoyl peroxide is a little different. Tests have shown that lower concentration is just as effective as the higher ones. The only difference as you move up concentrations is that skin irritation increases. Skin irritation with little reward doesn’t make much sense. If you are looking for an OTC medication that contains benzoyl peroxide, stick to low concentrations. Other chemicals often found in store-based products include salicylic acid and sulfur. These ingredients serve many of the same functions as benzoyl peroxide.

Dermatologists prescribe nearly all of their patients more than a single medication. After all, acne is the result of multiple influences. Topical medications prescribed by dermatologists focus on improving the turnover cycle and killing the bacteria that are responsible for acne. Erythromycin and Benzoyl peroxide are choice medications for bacteria control. Dead skin cell turnover can be normalized with topical retinoids including Tretinoin, the generic form of Retin-A. Retinoids are derived from Vitamin-A. Added bacteria control can be established through oral antibiotics, such as tetracycline. Accutane is a last-resort oral medication designed to temporarily end sebum production in acne-prone individuals. The treatment prolongs for six months and requires that the patient receives regular blood work. Due to some of the negative effects associated with Accutane, it is rarely prescribed on an initial visit.

When determining what treatment is best for you, you need to properly asses the severity of your acne. Whiteheads and blackheads which signal a more mild case of acne can typically respond well to over the counter products. Inflamed lesions like pustules and cysts should be examined by a dermatologist for proper treatment. Prescription medications are often the best course of treatment for this form of acne.

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