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

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Purchase acne product on the beauty counter or the pharmacy 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 quite problematic. Besides the pretty box and an attractive come-ons that all screaming 'buy me! "You can never know for sure what they actually rade.Brzo so you know if the acne product is worth your money by looking at their active ingredients. The most over-the-counter acne products contain benzoyl peroxide, salicyclic acid, alpha hydroxy acids, sulfur and resorcinol, and tea tree oil. Here's a rundown on how these ingredients work:

benzoyl peroxide

Clearasil, Panoxyl, Proactiv and ZapZyt are just some of the popular acne products containing benzoyl peroxide (BP). And with good reason too - it kills the bacteria that makes the red pimples and ugly. It also helps to remove dead skin cells and excess oil buildup that causes acne.Upozorenje though - BP can be quite harsh on the skin and cause irritation, redness and peeling

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salicylic acid

of the second regular acne products is salicylic acid (SA). This beta-hydroxy acid helps loosen buildup in the pores, making it easier for other ingredients (like BP) to do their job. In itself a good job clearing blackheads and whiteheads. Some people prefer SA because it is less irritating than BP. Popular products include SA Clean & Clear-a clear advantage Acne Spot Treatment, Neutrogena's Rapid Clear Acne Spot Removal Gel, and L'Oreal's line of acne response.

alpha hydroxy acids

can see the alpha hydroxy acid (or AHA) in many cosmetic products. Like their cousin, AHA loosen clogged pores and are especially effective against mild acne. As a bonus they can also make the pimples less noticeable helping reduce redness and acne scars. Some of the products with AHA are Bliss "Change Your Spots Acne Gel, Murad Post Acne Spot Lightening Gel, and Pronexin.

Sulfur and resorcinol

As with the AHA, sulfur and resorcinol work peeling away dead skin cells that clog pores and cause acne. They are also good at clearing blackheads and whiteheads. Sulfur odor is too strong for some products, however, and resorcinol can be irritating for those with sensitive skin. Clearasil Adult Care is tinted acne cream, adult Acnomel tinted moisturizer, a Glytone's Body 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 a mere gimmickry too - UTT operates as efficiently as BP in the killing pimple-causing bacteria and clearing up mild to moderate acne. Popular brands from the Body Shop UTT's Tea Tree Oil DDF-line and a benzoyl peroxide gel with 5% Tea Tree Oil.

Regardless of the over-the-counter product that 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 type of acne, you can consult a dermatologist or read other users' experiences online.