If you suffer from acne, it can be difficult to find the right treatment. While some people may want to avoid prescription medications, there are a variety of over-the-counter (OTC) treatments that can help improve your skin. OTC treatments come in many forms, from gels and creams to spot treatments and more. Let’s take a look at some of the best OTC options for treating your acne.
Benzoyl Peroxide
Benzoyl peroxide is an ingredient found in many OTC acne treatments. It works by killing bacteria on the surface of your skin, which helps reduce redness and inflammation associated with breakouts. This type of treatment is especially effective for milder forms of acne such as whiteheads and blackheads. It’s important to note that benzoyl peroxide can cause dryness or irritation when first used, so it’s best to start off slow with this product until you know how your skin will react.
Retinoids
Retinoids are derived from vitamin A, and they are often used to treat more severe forms of acne such as cystic or nodular acne. They work by reducing oil production in the skin, which helps prevent clogged pores that lead to breakouts. Retinoids can also help reduce existing scarring caused by severe breakouts. These products are available in both OTC formulations (such as Differin gel) or stronger prescription products (such as Retin-A).
Spot Treatments
Spot treatments are designed specifically for treating individual pimples instead of a larger area of skin affected by breakouts. These treatments tend to contain higher concentrations of active ingredients than other OTC products, so they can be very effective at quickly reducing redness and inflammation associated with pimples. However, it’s important to use these products sparingly since they can cause dryness or irritation if used too frequently or too liberally on the skin.
Acne is different for everyone, which means that finding the right treatment might require some trial and error on your part. Fortunately, there are plenty of effective over-the-counter options available that can help reduce redness and inflammation associated with breakouts without needing a prescription from your doctor. Products containing benzoyl peroxide or retinoids may help those suffering from milder forms of acne while spot treatments may be better suited for treating individual pimples quickly and effectively. No matter what type of treatment you choose, make sure to follow directions closely in order to get the best results possible! I recommend Obagi Medical CLENZIderm M.D. System – 3 Step Acne Treatment.