What
do the Ingredients in Acne Products Do for You?
Although studies have shown that
laser acne treatments and prescription pills can be effective in
fighting acne, sometimes you just don’t have the money to
spend on these acne products and procedures. Plus, laser treatments
and pills have been known to have side effects like irritation,
burning, and on the more serious side, depression and even suicidal
thoughts.
If you have mild to moderate acne and want to avoid the serious
side effects and budget breaking treatments, maybe over-the-counter
acne products are your best bet. The trick is figuring out which
of these acne products will suit your skin and your needs the most.
Acne occurs when your body produces too much sebum, an oily substance
that lubricates your hair and skin, and dead skin cells clump up
in the hair follicle and become inflamed. The goal of most acne
products is to kill Propionibacterium acnes, which are the bacteria
that cause acne inflammation. Acne products also attempt to reduce
oil production and speed up the removal of dead skin cells.
Acne products usually contain the following active ingredients:
- Benzoyl Peroxide—considered one of
the most effective ingredients in acne products because benzoyl
peroxide is believed to kill Propionibacterium acnes, as well
as remove excess oil and dead skin cells that cause acne. There
could be some mild side effects like dryness and redness.
- Salicylic Acid—prevents pores from
clogging by slowing the shedding of cells inside hair follicles.
It is also thought to help with whiteheads and blackheads.
- Alcohol and Acetone—these are usually
found in astringents and work to remove excess oil and dirt
from the face. Acne products that contain alcohol and acetone
may sting when applied if the area has an open wound.
- Sulfur and Resorcinol—these ingredients
usually come packaged together in some acne products. Like alcohol
and acetone, sulfur and resorcinol help remove excess oil from
the skin.
When visiting your local pharmacy or big
box retail store, be sure to look at the ingredients in all the
available acne products. If you don’t want to experience side
effects like redness or excessive dryness, try the low strength
acne products first.
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