Ask Why Before Choosing an Acne Product

You can choose the acne product best suited for you, if you know the causes of acne. The sebaceous glands, under the hair follicles produce sebum, an oily substance. Sebum goes up the hair shaft and comes out of the hair follicle on your skin. When there is an excess production of sebum along with dead skin cells, the hair follicle gets clogged. With more oil, the wall of the follicle ruptures giving space for more oil and dead cells to gather. Bacteria forms in this area causing swelling and infection. Acne is born.

Different OTC (over the counter) acne products work differently. Some kill  the bacteria called Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes), some remove excessive oil, while some work to promote new cell growth. Some acne products do several of these things together.

Active ingredients in acne products

Depending on the active ingredient, different acne products work differently. Here are some active ingredients commonly found in acne products:
·    Benzoyl peroxide. Very effective ingredient, it kills bacteria, removes dead cells, promotes growth of new cells and eradicates excess oil. Available strength vary from 2.5 to 10 percent, it can cause excessive aridity, scaling, redness and little swelling. It can cause hypersensitivity to UV exposure.
·    Salicylic acid. This ingredient has some anti-clogging property as it lessens dead cells from accumulating in the follicles. It may also cure whiteheads (clogged pores that have no opening) and blackheads (pores that are open and have a dark surface). A mild skin irritation is common. Strengths vary from 0.5 to 2 percent.
·    Sulfur and resorcinol.  Found always together in acne products, these eradicate dead cells, remove excess oil and open clogged pores. They also tackle white and blackheads. After prolonged use, some redness and peeling are expected.
·    Alcohol and acetone.  These ingredients are commonly used in astringents and cleansers as they remove oil and dirt from skin. A mild burning sensation or tingling may occur as an effect of these ingredients.

Using acne products for best results

To begin with, it is always safer to use the lower strengths of acne products. You may gradually increase the strength as your skin gets familiarized with the product. Never use two products with different active ingredients simultaneously. For example, never use a lotion with benzoyl peroxide along with a gel which contains salicylic acid. This can cause major skin problems. Over and above your acne products, there is a whole array of other skin care precautions which should not be overlooked. To get best results from acne products :
·    Stop using skin products which are oily or oil-based. Instead, choose those which are “oil-free” or “noncomedogenic” – which keeps pores free.
·    Use mild cleanser or a non-medicated soap to wash problem areas twice a day. Never over-wash or scrub.
·    Use an adequate amount of acne product for the problem areas.
·    To prevent dry, peeling skin, use only water-based oil-free moisturizers.
·    Leave the blemishes alone. Don’t pick or squeeze them.

Acne products usually take 4 to 6 weeks to yield desired results. Acne may look flared up before it recedes. If you don’t see any result after 2 months, see a doctor or a specialist for a prescription product.