Acne Product

When buying OTC, over the counter, products for the treatment of acne one must understand that the FDA regulates ingredients.  The FDA, U.S.  Food and Drug Administration, dictates the controls.  If a product claims to be able to treat acne, it must contain at least one of four ingredients.  Not only must the product have one of these ingredients, it must be in a certain amount.  Remember, these are products that treat acne, not cure acne. 

The four FDA approved ingredients for the treatment of acne are sulfur combined with resorcinol, sulfur, salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide.  Since at least one of these four must be present at the approved amount in the OTC product, it really doesn't matter from where you purchase the treatment.  You can buy it at your local deli if you want as long as the appropriate ingredient is on the label.  The correct amount for benzoyl peroxide is 2.5%, for resorcinol 2% and for sulfur 8%.  Find any of these percentages on the label and you have located an FDA approved treatment.   

What is commonly the case is that many companies making OTC treatments will add many other ingredients to compliment the FDA approved ingredients.  Some of these additions may be minerals, retinol, vitamins, herbs and even the very popular tea tree oil to name some.  These inactive ingredients are varied and claim to serve different purposes.  Some claim to be anti-inflammatory, some combat redness and irritations, others are exfoliates while there are those that diminish skin oils.  Again, these are claims and whether or not they actually do what they say they do is subject to opinion.  As long as one of the four FDA approved ingredients in the correct percentage is on the label, you have a product that has been tested and approved. 

Acne products that are available now days probably will not contain the two products sulfur and resorcinol.  Once highly regarded, they are now outdated and have been replaced by the much more popular salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide.  As I mentioned, all four are FDA approved but most products now contain the salicylic acid and the benzoyl peroxide.   

Benzoyl peroxide is an antibacterial substance that basically kills bacteria responsible for inflammation, which may lead to the breakout of acne.  Salicylic acid is an exfoliant.  Both of these serve as lipid soluble products which means they can penetrate skin oil and dry the skin. 

Caution must be taken when using products containing the four approved ingredients because excessive drying of the skin can occur.  What happens is water is removed from the upper layers of the skin, which causes the dryness.  Keep in mind as well that no matter how much of the surface oil is removed, it may not have any effect on the actual treatment of the acne.  Yes, the skin dries out, blemishes may be controlled and because oil is removed, the skin may appear to look better but the job of actually preventing acne is not happening.  Remember, these are OTC products and not prescription medications by a doctor.  Some improvement may be noted but it is quite superficial.   

For some, over the counter products with FDA approved ingredients may be all that is needed to get some relief from acne and see improvements.  If you can control the outbreak of blemishes with these ingredients then you have a huge variety of products to choose from.  Choose based on your preferences and needs and above all, keep yourself educated and informed on the latest tested products.