Over-the-counter acne treatment (OTC) products are available for the rapid treatment of mild to moderate acne. These include cleansing lotions, gels, soaps and other products that can be found in drugstores and cosmetic stores.
Now, considering the fact that the skin is a living and important organ of the body and its health affects and affects our overall health, how can we choose a suitable product for ourselves from the products available in stores !!?
How do acne treatment products work?
Before deciding on these products, it is better to pay some attention to how over-the-counter acne treatment products affect the skin and what substances we should look for according to our skin type.
Before identifying the ingredients in anti-acne products, it is important to note that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns that in rare cases (although very rare) these drugs can cause allergic reactions. Therefore, it is better to be a little careful when using such products and do allergy testing before using these products.
What are the active ingredients in acne treatment products?
Anti-acne products work in different ways depending on their active ingredients. For example, one group helps reduce pimples by killing bacteria, and another group helps reduce skin irritation by reducing skin inflammation. Some of these products remove skin oil and another group inhibits pimples by removing the layer of dead skin cells. Others have a combination of these.
Here are some of the active ingredients available.
Benzoyl peroxide:
This active ingredient in anti-acne medicines helps to reduce the appearance of bumps on the acne-causing bacteria. In addition it helps prevent clogging of the skin by removing excess fat and dead skin cells.
Benzoyl peroxide for boiling
Products that contain benzoyl peroxide are available in amounts of 2.5 to 10%, and these products can also have side effects.
Possible side effects include dry skin, flaking skin, redness, burning and irritation of the skin.
If you have dry skin, when buying a cosmetic product or an over-the-counter acne medicine, be sure to keep in mind that your skin is more vulnerable to benzoyl peroxide, and by reading the ingredients on the cover or asking the salesperson a reasonable purchase for your skin. you have.
salicylic acid:
This organic acid prevents the pores from closing. And from 0.5 to 5% are present in cosmetic products.
salicylic acid
Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA):
Two types of these materials are commonly used in over-the-counter products. These acids include glycolic acid and lactic acid.
It is worth noting that these acids are synthetic versions of acids derived from sugary fruits. These acids now help to quickly treat acne by removing dead cells and reducing inflammation. Another positive thing about alpha-hydroxy acids is that they stimulate the skin to produce new cells, which can also help improve the appearance of wounds. Side effects include mild skin irritation.
Sulfur:
Dead skin cells block the pores of the skin, and this blockage is one of the main causes of pimples and acne. Sulfur helps to remove these cells and excess skin fat to reduce acne. Of course, sulfur is often used in combination with other substances such as salicylic acid and benzoyl percid.
Sulfur-containing products can have side effects on the skin, such as dryness or hypersensitivity, and the downside is that some sulfur-containing products sometimes have an unpleasant odor.
There are many more of these products that are anti-acne, but in this article we have mentioned the most important ones.
How to choose the right product to treat acne?
The right product to treat acne depends on many factors, including the skin, the severity of the acne, and your daily skin care routine. Here are some general guidelines for choosing and using over-the-counter acne treatment products.
Preferably start with benzoyl peroxides. If you are not sure which product is right for your skin, use products containing benzoyl peroxide.
These products have a good effect on acne and in general, less side effects are seen in them and they are well tolerated. Check the labels on the products and note that the higher the percentage and strength of this active ingredient in anti-acne products, the better this product is. Incidentally, it is recommended that you first use products that have a lower percentage of benzoyl peroxide to minimize its side effects, and if necessary, gradually increase the percentage of this active ingredient so that your skin has enough time to adapt to the new treatment. Be.
In cases where acne is severe, use products that are a combination of the above. These compounds work together to help treat even the most severe acne. In some cases, you can use products that contain substances to minimize skin irritation.
A very important point to consider in treating acne is when you need to give the treatment process a chance to see the effects of the treatment. The minimum time required to see results is 4 to 6 weeks, and in cases where the severity of these lesions has been seen before the therapeutic effects appear.
