What is the best over the counter acne treatment to use?
I am 28 years old and having a big problem with acne that just won’t go away. I have no clue what to even go buy to help clear it up and prevent it from coming back, because I never had this problem as a teen, or ever for that matter. Any advice would be greatly appriciated.
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Hi Amanda,
There is no best. There are a few good options at the drugstore you can try. Just a "few". Some people who do not get acne during teenage years can get it later in life. Why? I have no idea. Hormonal imbalance of your menstrual cycle or just stress from work or other form of stress.
Rule of thumb: avoid heavy skin care and cosmetic products; avoid very hot or cold showers; sleep adequately; change pillow changes, etc.
You need to devise a well-designed skin care routine that includes well-formulated products. I have no idea what your skin type is, so I will just assume you have normal to oily/combination skin.
Overview: Cleanse –> exfoliate –> acne medication –> moisturizer (optional) –> sunscreen
Cleanser: Try Olay Foaming Face Wash, Sensitive. No Fragrance or colorant.
Exfoliant: You can try Neutrogena Acne Stress Control 3-in-1 Hydrating Acne Treatment with 2% salicylic acid. This product does contain fragrance and coloring additives, but they are both at the bottom of the list. Salicylic acid is a wonderful ingredient for oily/acne-prone skin type because it is a triple threat; that is, it functions as an antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and an oil-soluble exfoliant. All three of these benefits help kill acne bacteria, soothe the skin, and exfoliating the pore lining to dislodge any clog to permit a better flow of oil. If you are allergic to aspirin, then you should avoid salicylic acid-based products If you have sensitivity to salicylic acid, you probably want to stick with a physical scrub such as Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Scrub with polyethylene round beads as its gentle scrubbing agents. It is important to note that the efficacy of exfoliation of scrubs is not on par with chemical exfoliation. But before you go for the scrub, try ease up the application of chemical exfoliant if you have low tolerance for it at first. For example, try to apply it every other night, or every third night, or once a week and gradually increase application frequency. Or, you can apply the chemical exfoliant for 5 minutes and rinse it off; do this for a week and increase leave-on application as you achieve higher tolerance for the acid.
Acne Medication: Hands down the gold standard for treating acne is benzoyl peroxide. The FDA and deemed it to be safe and effective. If you want an organized acne regimen that takes the guess work out for you, you should give Proactiv a try. Acne.org also an acne system that; plus, this system is cheaper because you get for product per dollar. Other than that, the drugstore has a few good options, too. Research has shown that a 2.5% benzoyl peroxide product is just as effective as 5% or 10% without the irritation. Proactiv’s Repairing Lotion has 2.5% benzoyl peroxide. However, if your skin has a more aggressive form of acne, you may just want to try a stronger concentration of benzoyl peroxide. Oxy Clinical Clearing Treatment has 5% benzoyl peroxide while Clean and Clear Persa-Gel contain 10% benzoyl peroxide. If you have sensitive to benzoyl peroxide, an alternative may be sulfur-containing product such as Clearasil Adult Acne Treatment Cream, Tinted with 8% sulfur and 2% resorcinol; however, this product can be “strong” so do a patch test to be on the safe side.
Sunscreen: it is a MUST.. For normal to oily/combination skin, Neutrogena Age Shield SPF 45 or 55 is a great option. It has no fragrance of colorant. If you have very oily skin, Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Liquid Sunblock SPF 55 is a must to try because its liquid consistency and mineral silica leave a matte finish. How long the matte effect last depend how active your oil glands are, so you may want to blot throughout the day. You do not need any fancy paper to do so because a tissue paper is just fine. If you have sensitivity to synthetic sunscreen agent, then your alternative has to be sun product with just titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide. They provide board-spectrum product with high safety profile and almost no irritation potential because of their inert nature. Neutrogena Pure & Free Liquid Sunblock SPF 50 with 5% titanium dioxide and 3% zinc oxide is a great option. No fragrance or colorant.
If you have dry patches some where, use a well-formulated lotion such as Eucerin Daily Replenishing Lotion. Apply exfoliant, then lotion over on top. Try it out for a week to see result.
Result? Be patient and compliant for at least 2 months
If your acne persists and become non-responsive to acne methods above, you best bet is to visit your local board certified dermatologist for prescription options such as Retin-A micro or even Accutane (isotretinoin). Isotretinoin shrinks pores –> no more oil –> no more acne, period. Your doc will discuss the side effects and risks with you.
Best wishes
you should really go to the doctor
I recommend Clinique’s 3-Step Skin Care System, works really well!
http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P280902&shouldPaginate=true&categoryId=1254