Cured My Acne With Non Prescription Medication

By:Frank Vanderlugt

Posted 18 August 2006

Acne cures abound on drugstore shelves, behind the pharmacy counter and on the Internet. However, there is still plenty of acne in the world, so obviously many people still have not found the treatment that works for them. This article will present an overview of the most popular treatments, as well as the benefits and drawbacks of each.

Acne occurs when skin on the face, back and chest react to the male hormones testosterone and dihydrotestosterone and grow too fast, a process known as hyperkeratois. The overgrowth of skin cells clogs sebaceous glands, which develop a secondary infection from usually innocuous skin bacteria. This causes a pimple or cyst.

Disinfectant pads and alcohol-based astringents may help dry out the skin and ease the annoying oily sheen accompanying the acne, but they will not penetrate the skin and have little permanent effect.

The most popular acne remedy is benzoyl peroxide. The combination of antibacterial peroxide, combined with a benzoyl molecule to help it penetrate the skin more deeply that topical peroxide, controls the infection which causes pimples and dries them up. It is cheap, non-prescription and available in almost every store. For low-grade acne, it will probably be sufficient in and of itself. The disadvantage is that it can irritate thin, delicate skin, and it bleaches clothing. Also, some people do not like the idea of applying a benzoyl-derived compound to their skin, as related compounds have been proven carcinogenic. However, no human study has found any link between benzoyl peroxide and skin cancer, so it seems quite safe.

Fruit acids such as glycolic acid help acne by exfoliating the skin, countering hyperkeratosis. Longterm use in conjunction with benzoyl peroxide may provide the best combination treatment available over the counter. However, when treatment is first begun, slight irritation may occur and the acne may get worse before it gets better. Salicylic acid is the oldest of these exfoliants.

Sulfur compounds, one of the oldest acne remedies, dry up lesions, ease inflammation and are antibacterial. However, many people dislike the harsh smell of sufur. Some facial masks disguise the odor by combining sulfur in a mud mask, which is also soothing and exfoliating. It will improve the texture and appearance of oily skin if used on a regular basis. It is a natural remedy free of any known drawbacks or hazards.

Saw Palmetto is a natural herb which has been shown to be an effective antiandrogen. It blocks the conversion of testosterone into the acne-producing metabolite. Its most common use is for benign prostatic hypertrophy.

Some proprietary blends of OTC ingredients are also available, such as ProActiv or Murad, which combine different compounds in specific blends which as supposedly better than any one chemical by itself. Some of these patent medicines have good consumer reviews, such as ProActiv, but they can be quite expensive when compared to generic benzoyl peroxide.

If one over the counter remedy does not help or the effect wears off, combine them or rotate their use.

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