Acne Treatment Ingredients

Today there are a variety of different acne treatments that are available; however, they come with different active ingredients. If you are going to choose the acne treatment that will work the best for you, you need to make sure you are aware of the ingredients in the treatments and how they work. So, let’s take a closer look at some of the most common ingredients that you’ll find in acne treatments today.

Benzoyl Peroxide
Probably one of the most common ingredients found in acne treatments is benzoyl peroxide. This is the main ingredient in many over the counter treatments, although it can be purchased in a prescription strength as well. Benzoyl peroxide works by targeting the bacteria that can cause acne, which helps to get rid of the acne problem. However, there are some negative effects. In some cases it can cause dryness and irritation of the skin. If this occurs, you should cut back on the amount you use, but if it persists, stop using this altogether.

Salicylic Acid
Another very common ingredient that you’ll find in acne treatment products is salicylic acid. This ingredient works to get rid of the dead skin cells that tend to be on the skin. It is important to get rid of these dead skin cells, since they can get into your pores, combine with bacteria and sebum, and then cause acne. You can use products that contain salicylic acid to help you get rid of acne; however, you should continue to use it after your acne clears up as well to keep it from coming back. It too can cause excessively dry skin and irritation. If this happens to you, don’t use it quite as much and see if that takes care of the problem.

Sulfur
Believe it or not, sulfur is a popular ingredient in acne treatments as well, and it has been used for over 50 years. Often it is combined with other ingredients, such as resorcinol or even alcohol and many over the counter acne treatments contain this ingredient. Even though it has been used to treat acne for years, it is still not known how it actually works. However, since it does not smell the best, usually it is not used alone to treat acne problems.

Alcohol and Acetone
Usually these two ingredients are used together in acne medications that are available over the counter. The alcohol works as an antimicrobial and the acetone helps to get rid of excess oil. They are used together because when acetone is used on its’ own, it seem to have no effects at all.

Of course these are not the only ingredients you’ll find in acne treatments; however, they are some of the most common. So, now that you know a bit more about these ingredients and how they work, you are better equipped to start looking for the best acne treatment for your situation.