There are literally dozens and dozens of different over-the-counter options you’ll have available to pick and choose from when you’re looking to get rid of acne and find acne medications that work.
Many of these over-the-counter options are acne medications that work well, but a lot of them are little more than modern-day snake oil peddled by less than ethical marketers looking to cash in on people’s desperation to have crystal-clear complexions.
This is why you need to be certain that you know exactly what you’re getting into when you purchase over-the-counter medications, and that you strive to only use acne medications that work – that have been proven to be effective. There is a world of difference between dropping a bunch of money on acne medications that will give you the complexion you deserve and blowing a bunch of money on “solutions” that aren’t worth a dime.
Hopefully, we are going to be able to point you in the right direction as far as acne medications that work are concerned!
Acne Medications That Work: Medications That Include Benzoyl Peroxide
The odds are fantastic that if you are able to get your hands on an over-the-counter acne medication that includes benzoyl peroxide, you’re going to be getting your hands on an acne medication that actually does exactly what it promises.
One of the most common ingredients in acne medications today (over-the-counter as well as prescription), benzoyl peroxide is a chemical formulation that actively kills bacteria that causes acne while at the same time works to try out excess oil and slough off dead skin cells.
It is about as close to a “one size fits all solution” for acne as you’re going to find. Feel free to use it on your face acne, bacne (acne on your back), or anywhere else!
Of course, you want to make sure that you don’t go “heavy” on the benzoyl peroxide, either. It’s a pretty powerful chemical so look for a product that contains between 2.5%-10% depending on the sensitivity of your skin. Anything higher than that and you run the risk of burning your skin, causing dry skin all over or irritating your skin to the point of further acne breakouts.
If you have sensitive skin we recommend this cream from acne.org which has a 2.5% concentration. This cream is easy to use – just rub a couple of dabs on your face and let it soak in for 5-10 minutes. It should last you about 1-2 months if used daily.
If you want to be more aggressive in your skincare treatment then check out Humane’s Acne Treatment Face and Body Face. Not only is it easy to use and apply everywhere with its lotion pump, but it is very powerful with a 10% concentration of benzoyl peroxide. This acne wash should also last you 1-2 months if used daily.
Medications That Include Salicylic Acid
Acne medications that work usually include salicylic acid as an important ingredient, and it ranks right up there with benzoyl peroxide as a “go-to” solution for those that want to banish acne once and for all.
Salicylic acid essentially works to dive deep into your pores, dredging them of dirt, debris, and dead skin cells while killing bacteria at the same time. After this compound works to destroy all of the issues that are causing acne it sanitizes the pores and works to prevent bacteria from regenerating later down the line. Acne medications with salicylic acid give you long-term acne solutions and tremendous “bang for your buck”.
Of course, this chemical also has the potential for side effects – just like most other acne medications that work. You might have to deal with a little bit of stinging and skin irritation, and you have to make sure that you don’t overuse salicylic acid or you’ll dry yourself out and cause more acne breakouts later down the line. We recommend Clean & Clear’s Advantage. Not only is this product oil-free, but it clears your pimples/acne fairly quickly. Another pro for this product is that it is extremely affordable at about $6.00. However, it may dry out your face a little bit so make sure to apply some face lotion.
Medications That Include Alpha-hydroxy Acids
There are a couple of different types of alpha-hydroxy acids that are used in acne medications that work, but you’ll want to be on the lookout for products that also contain glycolic acid and lactic acid. These synthetic solutions work to destroyed dead skin cells and eliminate inflammation while at the same time stimulate the growth and regeneration of your healthy skin cells.
These acne medications are going to prove to be wonderfully effective if you use them as directed. Again, you’ll want to be on the lookout for side effects – usually mild stinging or skinny rotation – and stay away from overusing it which can cause significant problems later on. Unfortunately, we don’t have a product to recommend here.
If you know of any that works great for you please let us know in the comments!