Top 5 Over-the-Counter Acne Treatments

by Carrie Aker

So, you’ve got a small case of acne. It happens to the best of us. But if you’re not ready to seek out the professional results of a Microdermabrasion or Photofacial, which of those numerous over-the-counter acne treatments can hold you over for that big date this weekend? There are many to choose from and not all of them will work for your skin type. Based on our experience, these are the top five acne treatments currently available for cheap purchase at your local drug store:

Stridex Pads
Stridex has been on the market for years and has a positive track record of treating acne breakouts. Stridex has several different types of pads on the market today. There are also Stridex wipes. The recommended use is two to three pads per day; however, you should start with just one pad or wipe a day and then build up. This is because the pads can cause excessively dry skin. Stridex contains Salicylic Acid, which works as a mild exfoliant and can dry skin. Starting with one pad and increasing the number of pads used overtime should prevent you from drying the skin too much.

Neutrogena Rapid Clear Acne Eliminating Spot Gel
This product is designed to reduce the visibility of breakouts in 8 hours. It’s great for those people who don’t have severe acne breakouts. This product is different than the Stridex pads because it’s designed for spot treatment rather than a full facial treatment. Like Stridex, Neutrogena’s Spot Gel contains Salicylic Acid.

Clean and Clear Advantage
This product is a daily cleanser designed to rid skin of oil build up to prevent new outbreaks. Clean & Clear is designed to eliminate existing outbreaks because of two special ingredients: Salicylic Acid and an Acelera complex. The Salicylic acid helps to unclog pores and the Acelera complex helps prevent dryness.

Clearasil Stay Clear Acne Wipes
Clearasil’s wipes are convenient acne care solutions that can be handled on the go. They not only clean the skin of dirt and oil, but they also remove make-up effectively. The wipes remove excess oil and dead skin to keep your skin looking shine free and to help prevent further breakouts.

Oxy 10
This classic gel is very strong, and because of its Benzoyl Peroxide ingredient, it is designed to treat even some of the toughest acne breakouts. Oxy 10 can really dry out the skin and should only be used exactly as described in the usage directions.

The best way to choose the right over-the-counter acne product for you is to determine what your problem really is. Do you have actual acne or is it black heads? The treatments will be different for both issues. The two most common active ingredients found in over-the-counter acne products serve different purposes. Salicylic Acid works best when you are trying to balance abnormal skin shedding. Benzoyl Peroxide is designed to treat acne itself. Both are effective and serve their purpose, but it is important to make the right choice for your skin. For an expert opinion or for a more advanced acne treatment session, you can also consider scheduling a free consultation with a skin care clinic near you.

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