Acne and You » salicylic acid

Over-the-counter Acne Treatment

Guest Author — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 18:06:10 +0000

There are a number of treatments available for acne treatment; however, not all of them are to be trusted as affective and helpful. Most of them have severe side affects along, if not used under proper medical supervision. Many people simply take up these over the counter drugs to treat any breakouts that occur, and this may result in more irritation of the skin as well as allergic reactions. Antibiotics, gels, creams, herbal medications are all available over the counter, but instead of grabbing all of them at once, use the lighter, basic ones first.

Before using acne treatments, you have to understand the skin type and which treatment would suit your skin. Acne that is not inflamed can use SALICYLIC ACID products. Use it according to the instructions and if after weeks you still find the condition the same, then you can move on to another product. Acne which is inflamed and give a reddish look can be treated by benzoyl peroxide, the most commonly used over the counter acne treatment. The lotion can be applied for weeks and also mixed with salicylic acid.

Common over the counter acne treatments are products related to BENZOYL PEROXIDE, SALICYLIC ACID, SULFUR & RESORCINOL, ALCOHOL and ACETONE. These come in different strength level ranging from 2.5% to 10% and are packed under products named as PROACTIVE, BENZADERM GEL, GLYTON and many other creams. Sulfur products come with strength level of 2% to 8% and have products such as Clearasil Medicated Blemish Cream, Rezamid Lotion, Glytone Flesh Tinted Acne Treatment Lotion. Salicylic acid has Noxzema Anti-Acne Gel and Dermalogica Medicated Clearing Gel.

Other than the regular acne, if you are suffering from severe acne that doesn’t seem to get over with the regular lotions and gels, then it’s time to take antibiotics. These will help to eliminate the bacteria causing the acne. But before using antibiotics, you will need to consult with a doctor, as these cause severe side affects of vomiting, nausea, lethargic, depression and other factors. Pregnant women who get acne should strictly consult a doctor as drinking these antibiotics may cause severe birth affects.

About Author:
Alice has been an expert in skin health writing specifically on the subject of acne. Her work has been published on various websites and magazines and provides insightful advice for natural acne treatment, skin regimes etc. For more articles on acne and its causes please visit http://www.naturalacneremedy.com/

Adult Acne Treatments

EA Amundsom — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 21:00:35 +0000

We think of acne as a teenager’s problem; and in fact, it does affect teenagers more than anyone else. Unfortunately, 25% of adult men and 50% of adult women also suffer from acne well past the teenage years. Adult men are primarily affected by acne on the chest and back; adult women continue to suffer primarily facial acne, but may also get chest and back acne, to a lesser degree than most men.

If we think acne in our teenage years is embarrassing, it’s probably more so in our adult years, when most people don’t expect to continue to suffer from acne. Back and chest acne in adults can be quite severe, and adult acne difficult to treat.

In women, hormones may play a role in adult acne breakouts. Many women notice an eruption of acne at certain points in their menstrual cycle, during pregnancy or when starting or stopping birth control pills. Some adults with hormonal imbalances caused by other diseases, such as polycystic ovary syndrome, may have problems with acne. Generally, however, adult acne is not caused by hormones.

Other factors that may cause adult acne include poor nutrition, improper skin care, bacteria, and stress.

Poor nutrition: Adults suffering from acne need to evaluate their diet and make adjustments to attempt to alleviate the problem. Caffeine may play a major factor – it’s known to have diuretic effects and may cause dehydration. The skin needs fluids to maintain proper balance. Excessive intake of diuretics, whether natural diuretics such as coffee, tea and chocolate or medications that may have a diuretic effect, will impact the balance of necessary fluids and affect skin health.

Improper skin care: Even adults may become relaxed about proper skin care, especially in areas that are generally covered by clothing – and they may forget that clothing may be a contributing factor. Adults also forget that their skin is different than a teenager’s and yet they attempt to treat acne in the same way they did as a teenager. Adult acne treatments are different because your skin is different.

Bacteria: If your skin condition is incorrigible to self treatment, you may need to see a dermatologist to determine if the acne is caused by bacteria. Bacteria lives all around us and in us but sometimes it flares to unhealthy – and unmanageable – levels in our body and on our skin. Remember that your skin is an organ and may require medical management, just as you would see a doctor if you had a bacteria causing problems in one of your other organs.

Stress: It is probably unrealistic to say “stop being stressed!” However, try to determine if outbreaks of acne are related to increased stress – or poor nutrition caused by stress. Constant stress that may be the cause of acne ought to be addressed and alleviated, for overall physical and mental health, not just to treat adult acne!

Adult Acne Treatment

The first step is to see if you can determine what may be causing your acne outbreaks and then modify behavior accordingly. Obviously, for women, if acne outbreaks are related to menstrual cycles, pregnancy or birth control pills, there isn’t much you can do to actually prevent the outbreaks. There are, however, things that can be done to mitigate the severity of outbreaks.

Pay attention to the amount of water you drink every day. You only get to count water! Coffee, tea, soft drinks, flavored drinks – don’t count. There’s nothing better for you than just plain water. Add some lemon to it for a little flavor, but try and drink more water. If you are taking diuretic medication, talk with the prescribing physician, but in most cases you are still expected to take in plenty of water, even when taking diuretics.
Watch what you eat. Avoid caffeine, sugar and refined carbohydrates, as well as processed foods. Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables. Vegetables are best for you when they are raw or just lightly steamed.
Do your best to banish blackheads before they become inflamed and break out as full-blown acne. In addition to thorough daily cleansing, two to three times a week, use an exfoliating scrub in the shower, such as a loofah, and a salicylic acid cleanser or alpha-hydroxy acid exfoliant. Don’t go crazy – gentle scrubbing is all you need, and consistent application. These chemical products work better to clean out pores than most scrubs. Ask for someone in your home to assist you if you have back acne that you can’t reach with a long-handle scrubbie.
Moisturizer is not bad for acne, but be careful what kind you use. Try non-acnegenic or oil-free moisturizers and apply after bathing or showering.
If you are experiencing severe back and chest acne, consider changing your laundry routine. Your skin may be irritated by the soap you use, or by inadequate rinsing. Try a gentler laundry soap and run an extra rinse cycle.
Speaking of clothing – if you work out, try buying workout clothes that have a wicking effect and draw the moisture away from your skin as you work out. This may help reduce breakouts. Wash after every workout and wash all your other clothes frequently, as well. You want what touches your skin to be clean, and as dry as possible.

Home remedies, better nutrition, and proper hygiene may go a long way cure or alleviate adult acne, but when all else fails, don’t hesitate to go to the doctor.

Over-the-counter treatments for acne

EA Amundsom — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 20:27:56 +0000

Most people will choose to self treat acne with over-the-counter medications or home remedies, or a combination of both. For mild to moderate cases, these are most likely to be effective. However, myths and misinformation is abundant when it comes to self-treatment of acne and there is a vast array of products on local drugstore shelves, leaving most people standing in confusion, wondering which ones are likely to be most effective.

The ultimate goal of acne treatment and prevention is three-fold:

Unplug pores.
Remove bacteria.
Reduce inflammation and swelling.

There are few over-the-counter medications (or even prescription medications, for that matter) that do all three. Using a combination of medications is the most effective treatment. Full face, daily treatment is essential to halting acne in its tracks and preventing future outbreaks. Remember that by the time you see the outbreak on the surface of your skin, the problem has been festering at lower levels for two weeks - don't stop treatments as soon as your skin is clear!

Benzoyl Peroxide

Benzoyl peroxide is probably the world's best acne treatment. It attacks the P. acnes bacteria very effectively, and after decades of use there is no indication that the bacteria develops a resistance to it. Other reasons for its effectiveness are its ability to penetrate the oil in the plug, and it may control excess sebum production and lessen skin inflammation. All in all, this is your go-to for over-the-counter treatment of acne.

Benzoyl peroxide comes in strengths of 2.5%, 5% and 10%. Start with the lowest strength (2.5%) and give it two weeks. If it's effective, there's no need to go to a higher strength. This is a case where more is not better - higher strength potentially causes more irritation to the skin. If it is effective for you, it will continue to be effective; the bacteria cannot develop a resistance to it.

Salicylic Acid

Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid derived from willow tree bark. It works as an exfoliator to loosen and soften plugged pores. It is most often sold in pre-soaked pads that can be used directly on the skin.

Resorcinol

Resorcinol is another exfoliator, acting much the same as salicylic acid, to loosen and soften plugged pores. It may also help reduce inflammation and fight the P. acnes bacteria. It is frequently combined with sulfur, which is another keratolytic agent. Sulfur also has an antibacterial effect, inhibiting the growth of bacteria, and may help reduce redness and swelling by decreasing the formation of free fatty acids. Most people who are allergic to sulfa drugs, such as Bactrim and Septra, don't experience any difficulty when topically applying sulfur.

Cosmeceutical agents

These are products that have not been FDA approved for labeling as controlling acne. There can be a variety reasons for the lack of label, but it doesn't necessarily mean they aren't at all effective. They may be less effective, but their effect might be sufficient for mild cases of acne. Their labels generally will indicate that they are "blemish fighting," "pore clearing," or "skin calming." These imply acne treatment without violating FDA guidelines.

Are over-the-counter treatments safe?

Over-the-counter topicals are generally safe. The worst that can happen is irritation or an allergic reaction that will go away when you discontinue use of the product. If you do have a reaction, make a note of the product name and ingredients and then avoid products with similar ingredients.