|
|
Acne Products
Acne products act on one or more of the factors that lead to acne. Acne products can normalize the shedding of skin in hair follicles, kill the P. acne bacteria that thrive in trapped oil (sebum), relieve inflammation, reduce sebaceous gland size, limiting oil production in women only, and counteract the effect of androgens with female hormones.
Over-the counter acne products may do the trick for a limited period of time. All over-the-counter acne products are topical, which means they can be applied to the surface of the skin only, working in one of these ways:
- acne products reduce the amount of excess sebum, absorbing the surface oil
- acne products shed the dead skin cells preventing clogging
- acne products kill the bacteria that causes inflammation
- acne products do actually nothing to prevent excess oiliness, skin cell shedding or bacterial galore
Over-the-counter acne products are regulated by FDA (if in the USA) or in European Union. These agencies declare the percentage of active ingredients in each of the acne products: for instance, companies cannot make the more concentrated benzoyl peroxide acne products for over-the-counter sale or combine salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide in one product. And none of the acne products that don't contain BP, salicylic acid, sulphur or resorcinol, can officially claim to cause therapeutic effect on acne.
There are two types of acne control products available. The first is over the counter cleansers and topical creams, and the other is medical treatment prescribed by a dermatologist. The first is for mild to medium acne, but if it becomes more severe you need to undergo treatment from your doctor. However, over-the-counter acne products may do the trick, if you are willing to spend some time and money to experiment and figure out which acne products work best for you.
Some dermatologists say these traditional agents s have a role to play in treating breakouts, but benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, both with a long history of use and numerous studies investigating their effects, are today's key nonprescription choices.
They are not interchangeable, but work in different, complementary ways. Benzoyl peroxide is an antibacterial agent, with a peerless ability to seek out and destroy the follicle dwelling P. acnes bacteria. Salicylic acid is a mild exfoliant and a comedolytic ingredient which means that it works to loosen and expel comedones microcomedones, the time-bomb "precursor lesions" of acne. It also has anti-inflammatory qualities that help tame the redness of acne lesions.
Unlike many of the other antibacterial and exfoliant ingredients found in skin-care products (including many those touted as "blemish-fighting" or "pore-cleaning" potion both benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid are lipid soluble which means they will cut through oil. Thus, they can penetrate into sebaceous follicles to strike acne at its roots.
|
|
|
|
|
|
HOME FAQ PURCHASE DISCLAIMER & PRIVACY POLICY CONTACT US FASHION MONITOR
© 2006 Clear Acne Now All Rights Reserved Fashion Monitor, Toronto, Canada |
