Skincare Treated

Buying Relief over the Counter

Acne is a skin disease whose most obvious manifestation is blackheads, pimples, and papules. It is usually accompanied by red and inflamed skin. Blemished or scarred skin is almost inevitable.

But there is a range of over the counter medication available that can come to your rescue.

No Need for Prescription

Over the counter medication, as the name suggests, is medicine that can be purchased literally over the counter without a prescription from a physician. These include cleansing creams, gels, lotions and sprays. Oral medication usually requires a doctor’s prescription.

What kinds of over the counter medication is available? How does is work? Can all acne patients use them? These are common questions asked by people agonising over their acne and looking for relief.

All acne OTC medicines, like all medication, contain an active ingredient which sets off a specific reaction in the skin. Acne cleansers contain three main kinds of basic ingredients, either salicylic acid, glycolic acid or anti-bacterial agents.

Unblocking Acne Pores

Mild acne can usually be controlled with the use of medication aimed at clearing blocked pores. Some of them reduce inflammation and others kill surface bacteria that inevitably reside on the skin’s surface.

Careful to apply creams and lotions gently and evenly so that you don’t aggravate the pimples and zits. Also make sure you apply the over the counter medication to every part of the skin.

But even the most effective over the counter medication will not help unless you follow a good personal hygiene routine.

Personal Hygiene

Use a good benzoyl peroxide was twice daily. Salicylic acid is an alternative for those who re allergic to benzoyl peroxides. Follow this up with a gel or cream containing 5% benzoyl peroxide. You can also use sulfur or resorcinol.

Before you turn in for the night, wash your face with soap and water and then apply a little cream containing sulfur to the face.

If its beauty products you’re wondering about, here’s a tip. A mild moisturizer and oil-free make-up is all right.

Simple Tips on Acne

Hear of pore strips? These are strips you can stick to individual spots on your face such as your nose, forehead and chin. They apparently attract the oil from the pores. Pore strips are inexpensive and may offer temporary relief from stubborn acne pimples and zits.

Facials are another remedy for acne patients and consist of essentially steaming the face to unblock the pores. Unblocking the pores can reduce acne white heads and blackheads. Chemical facials and face packs are available and fall in the category of over the counter medications.