Help for Your Acne - Acne Medications Without a Prescription

Acne Meds - Cutting Through the Confusion

How do you know which over the counter treatments are the most effective? It would be so good to know these things BEFORE you get your first breakout of pimples, don't you agree?

Finding the best acne treatment for you can be so confusing, what with the plethora of information through advertisements not to mention the helpful advice of our family and friends. Everyone claims to have the 'miracle cure' which promises to get rid of your embarrassing pimple problem overnight... or sooner! Still, the best advice remains to consult your doctor or dermatologist before taking this potentially serious matter into your own hands. If not treated properly, acne is a rather complicated condition which can deteriorate rapidly, leaving you with unsightly lifelong scars.

What Kind of Acne Do You Have?

The first thing you'll want to do is find out exactly what kind of acne you have. All forms of acne are not created equal. Some are far more stubborn and difficult to get rid of than others. Also the treatments will vary depending on the type of acne you have. This is why professional help is so important. You want to be absolutely certain that you are going after the right issue before you start attacking it with random over the counter medicines.

Keep in mind that everyone is different. What works for your friend or even other family member might not be right for you. In fact, that very treatment could even make YOUR condition worse. Therefore you are well-advised to obtain a proper diagnosis before you potentially waste your time and money on non-prescription acne treatments.

It's important to know that different acne treatments react differently when even the smallest variables change. You are unique. No one else has your exact body chemical composition. Just this one factor alone will make your results different than anyone else, even though you are using the exact same treatment. Depending on your condition, you may need a product to deal with the infections resulting from acne. Other products specialize in suppressing sebum production. Still other are physical or chemical scrubbing agents that strip off the top layer of skin thereby minimizing the chances for bacteria to go undetected and flourish. You'll get an idea of how a particular product is supposed to work by reading the list of active ingredients.

Some Effective Acne Ingredients to Look For

If you require a peel, you'll want to look for products containing benzoyl peroxide. This solution promotes the growth of new skin cells while clearing your pores. By using this treatment you can reduce the risk of infection simply by decreasing the level of bacteria on your skin. You'll want to start with a mild concentration of 2.5% to be sure that your skin can tolerate this treatment. If necessary, you can later advance to stronger concentrations once you are certain you won't have any adverse reactions to this product.

Another product which removes surface skin cell build-up is salicylic acid. It performs in much the same way as benzoyl peroxide in that it stops your pores from clogging.

If you are looking for a product that has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, those containing Melaleuca or Tea-Tree oil might be worth investigating. However you should be aware that many over the counter products don't have enough pure Melaleuca oil for them to be effective as a healing ingredient. You may be fooled into thinking you are getting full benefits just because this element is listed on the label. As insurance, you may want to find a reliable source of pure essential Melaleuca oil and add several drops to your current cleansers and creams.

Research shows that pantothenic acid, a B vitamin, is necessary in order for co-enzyme A to be effective. Co-enzyme A determines the production of hormones and fatty acids. While studies were too small to come to any decisive conclusions, they were just compelling enough to make it worth looking at pantothenic acid as a potential acne treatment supplement.

Acne Treatments - We've Only Just Begun

Please keep in mind that although they do improve the condition of the skin by relieving the symptoms and reducing infection, none of these ingredients alone treat the underlying causes of acne.

The best advice remains to seek a correct and accurate medical diagnosis before spending your time and money on any over the counter acne medicines. Armed with the right information, you can then confidently choose the best acne treatments that are most likely to benefit you.