Acne Medications

Benzoyl Peroxide

Benzoyl peroxide is probably the single-most effective antiacne medication available without a prescription. It is available in creams, lotions, or gels in concentrations ranging from 2.5 percent to 10 percent. Unlike the other medications already mentioned, benzoyl peroxide is both effective in preventing the development of new blemishes and clearing up those already present.

It is believed to work in several ways. It unplugs pores by acting as a mild peeling agent the inside of the hair follicles. It also penetrates the hair follicles, where it kills the bacteria capable of breaking down oil and debris buildup into potentially irritating, acneproducing fatty acids.

In general, benzoyl peroxide gels are believed to be more effective than benzoyl peroxide creams or lotions. Interestingly, recent studies indicate that the 5 percent and 10 percent concentrations aren't any more effective than the 2.5 percent concentration for controlling acne. Moreover, for most people, except those with the oiliest complexions, the higher concentration benzoyl peroxide products can be excessively chapping and irritating. When applying any of these medications, you should avoid the sensitive areas near your eyes and lips; these areas tend to become easily irritated.

The majority of benzoyl peroxide gels currently available require a doctor's prescription. Clear by Design, however, is a nonprescription 2.5 percent benzoyl peroxide gel. Fostex BPO, which is available in both 5 percent and 10 percent concentrations, is another nonprescription gel.

Neutrogena's Acne Mask is a unique 5 percent benzoyl peroxide preparation. Like Vlemasque, it is designed to be applied as a thick paste mask, left on for twenty minutes, then washed off. The short duration of application seems to make dryness and irritation less of a problem. Once again, you don't need to sleep with the medication on.

A few final notes on self-treatment. No one product is right for everybody's skin. If you experience burning, itching, redness, or swelling after using any medication, you should immediately discontinue its use and let your skin rest for a day or two. If you continue to experience symptoms for more than a couple of days, you should seek medical attention. Always bear in mind that acne is a potentially scarring condition. This applies particularly to moderately severe or severe cases of acne that have been allowed to go untreated or have been improperly treated. Therefore, if you observe no improvement in your condition, or only minimal improvement, after three to four weeks of self-treatment, you should consult a dermatologist.

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		Benzoyl Peroxide Benzoyl peroxide is probably the single-most effective antiacne medication available without a prescription. It is available in creams, lotions, or gels in concentrations ranging from 2.5 percent to 10 percent. Unlike the other medications already mentioned, benzoyl peroxide is both effective in preventing the development of new blemishes and clearing up those already present. It is believed to work in several ways. It unplugs pores by acting as a mild peeling agent the inside of the hair follicles. It also penetrates the hair follicles, where it kills the bacteria capable of breaking down oil and debris buildup into potentially irritating, acneproducing fatty acids. In general, benzoyl peroxide gels are believed to be more effective than benzoyl peroxide creams or lotions. Interestingly, recent studies indicate that the 5 percent and 10 percent concentrations aren't any more effective than the 2.5 percent concentration for controlling acne. Moreover, for most people, except those with the oiliest complexions, the higher concentration benzoyl peroxide products can be excessively chapping and irritating. When applying any of these medications, you should avoid the sensitive areas near your eyes and lips; these areas tend to become easily irritated. The majority of benzoyl peroxide gels currently available require a doctor's prescription. Clear by Design, however, is a nonprescription 2.5 percent benzoyl peroxide gel. Fostex BPO, which is available in both 5 percent and 10 percent concentrations, is another nonprescription gel. Neutrogena's Acne Mask is a unique 5 percent benzoyl peroxide preparation. Like Vlemasque, it is designed to be applied as a thick paste mask, left on for twenty minutes, then washed off. The short duration of application seems to make dryness and irritation less of a problem. Once again, you don't need to sleep with the medication on. A few final notes on self-treatment. No one product is right for everybody's skin. If you experience burning, itching, redness, or swelling after using any medication, you should immediately discontinue its use and let your skin rest for a day or two. If you continue to experience symptoms for more than a couple of days, you should seek medical attention. Always bear in mind that acne is a potentially scarring condition. This applies particularly to moderately severe or severe cases of acne that have been allowed to go untreated or have been improperly treated. Therefore, if you observe no improvement in your condition, or only minimal improvement, after three to four weeks of self-treatment, you should consult a dermatologist. Home \| Acne \| Acne Blemishes\| Acne Effects\| Acne Causes\| Acne Myths\| Acne Treatments\| Acne Medications\| Acne Medicines\| Acne Antibiotic Treatments\| Accutane Acne Treatment\| Other Acne Treatments\| Sitemap © 2009 amyantiaging.com. All Rights Reserved.
	Acne Medications Most nonprescription (so-called over-the-counter) acne medications intended for home self-treatment consist of the following four ingredients found either alone or in combination: sulfur, resorcinol, salicylic acid, and benzoyl peroxide. Over-the-counter medications, like the prescription medications that are discussed later in this chapter, are usually formulated as creams, lotions, gels, and masks. Sulfur/Resorcinol Sulfur alone, or combinations of sulfur and resorcinol, have been used for many years for both their skinpeeling (keratolytic) and antibacterial properties. These ingredients function best to speed the healing of pimples that are already present, rather than prevent the for mation of new ones. A number of sulfur/resorcinolcontaining products are available as flesh-tinted lotions so that they may also be used as cover-ups for hiding blemishes. Almost always unwilling to use girls' makeups to cover blemishes, boys often find flesh-tinted acne medications to be especially useful products. Color blenders are provided with many of these products so that you can try to match them to your natural skin color. For best results, first apply a small amount of the lotion directly over the blemish to be covered. Next, "feather" the edges of the medication to make it blend more naturally and gradually with the surrounding normal skin. Unfortunately, even when great care is taken to produce a satisfactory color match, flesh-tinted lotions do not always precisely match your natural skin color. Furthermore, blacks and darker-skinned whites often complain of a whitish flakiness on their skin when these medications dry. Nevertheless, many people benefit from them. Vlemasque is a sulfur-containing mask that is intended to be applied to your skin as a thick paste, left on for only twenty minutes, and then washed off. Vlemasque is especially useful in treatment of moderately severe or severe forms of inflammatory acne. You don't need to keep the medication on overnight, as you would most other antiacne medications. Some people even claim to find the mask soothing to their skin. Salicylic Acid Salicylic acid, another form of peeling agent, is particularly effective for treating blackheads. It appears to loosen and soften thick, clogged pores. Like sulfur and resorcinol, however, salicylic acid does little to prevent the development of new acne blemishes. Salicylic acid preparations are usually alcohol-based medications. The alcohol base provides the additional benefit of removing oil. Individuals with oily skin may find that these products leave their skin feeling cleaner and fresher.