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.