Over the Counter Acne Medication

There are many differing views on what is the best type of acne medication to use. If it is the various types of creams, lotions and oils that you want to try then there are many over the counter options worth looking at. Some of the options are applied directly on the skin and others are medications that are taken by mouth. If you are uncertain or what to use, going to see a dermatologist, or a skin doctor, is a good place to start. They can suggest over the counter options to try before having to resort to prescription alternatives.

If the area is suffering only from a mild outbreak then there is no reason why the acne medication cannot be applied directly on the acne. The most common types of medicines to use start with benzoyl peroxide. This will diminish the skins production of oil, dry out the acne and help to make it go away quickly. Resorcinol is best used to get rid of both whiteheads and blackheads. Also good for getting rid of blackheads and whiteheads is salicylic acid. In addition, it will slow down the areas shedding of skin which will improve the skins appearance. Sulfur is another means to fight the blackheads and whiteheads. These all come in assorted forms of acne medication and can be anything from gels to soaps, creams or liquids. Some of them come in disposable pads that you wipe over the area and then throw away.

Any type of acne medication can have some side effects. It can make the area look redder or cause a burning or irritated feeling. If this persists over a long period of time it is wise to discuss these affects with your health care provider. It is important to understand that when using any type of acne medication it does not work overnight. These can take several weeks before having a noticeable change and up to two months to actually eliminate the acne.