If you suffer from acne you will be looking for an effective treatment that won't make your skin dry and flaky and that is also good value for money. As you will be using these products for quite some time you will want to find an effective product that isn't going to leave you broke! One of the most effective ingredients used in acne products is benzoyl peroxide and we'll look at two of the most popular products that contain this ingredient here.

Most people can tolerate a 2.5% benzoyl peroxide product well but before you use one you need to be aware of the side effects. If you have never used this type of product before take care that you don't use if too often at first. It is tempting to apply it frequently in the hope that more often will lead to quicker results but this is not the best way. Only apply twice a day at first until you know how your skin is reacting. Side effects include redness, itching and dryness and these are more likely to occur if you use a high concentration cream. You should start with a low concentration such as 2.5% and only go on to a higher concentration if your skin does not react to this and if you are not getting results. For most people a 2.5% is adequate to clear their acne.

Although there are more popular products that contain high concentrations of benzoyl peroxide we'll look at only those that contain a lower 2.5% of active ingredient in this article. The first one we'll consider is produced by Acne.org. It is formulated not to be drying to the skin and should be used with the program laid out on their website. Customers who used this product at Amazon gave it an overall rating of the top five stars and found it to be effective and pleasant to use. It contains no fragrance and is considerably less drying than many other benzoyl peroxide products. It can be bought for less than $20 for an 8oz bottle or in a kit with cleanser and moisturiser. For those who are new to using a benzoyl peroxide product and who have mild to moderate acne this product is recommended.

Our second product is the Proactiv Acne Treatment System which consists of a kit containing lotion, toner, cleanser and mask. The cleanser contains exfoliating beads to prepare your skin by thoroughly cleaning the pores and the toner is gentle and alcohol free with ingredients designed to soothe inflamed skin. The lotion contains 2.5% benzoyl peroxide and is formulated to be gentle, non drying and non irritating. The Proactive kit received a four star rating by customers at Amazon.

These products will be effective against acne if used as directed. Although they may take a little longer to work than the high concentration benzoyl peroxide products they are much less irritating to the skin and will be less likely to cause redness and flaky skin than products with a higher level of the active ingredient.

Find out more and see the Top Ten Best Benzoyl Peroxide Products for Acne

If you have acne you will no doubt have looked at over the counter acne treatments but which one is the most effective? The best acne treatment for you may depend on a number of factors, such as how severe your acne is. For those with very severe or cystic acne it is best to consult a dermatologist but for milder cases you may wish to try one of the OTC acne treatments mentioned below.

Acne treatments containing benzoyl peroxide.

The most popular ingredient in acne treatments is benzoyl peroxide which is included in the majority of OTC remedies. It is an effective treatment and can be used over a long period as there have not been reports of side effects when used in this way. Short term side effects include reddening of the skin, dryness itching or flaking but are usually mild and disappear as your skin gets used to the treatment. Benzoyl peroxide is found in popular acne treatments such as Clearasil or ProActive. Creams and gels can be bought that contain a variety of benzoyl peroxide strengths but you should start with a low strength such as 2.5% and only increase the strength if this is not working for you. It should be used over the whole of the affected area, not just on your spots as it will prevent flare ups in unaffected areas. It is also necessary to continue to use the treatment even when your skin is reasonably clear or the acne will probably return.

Acne treatments containing salicylic acid

Salicylic acid is another popular ingredient in OTC acne treatments and is a good exfoliator. It clears away dead skin cells and is effective at removing debris, sebum and dirt form the pores that harbor the acne bacteria. It is present in a wide range of acne treatments including creams, gels, exfoliating products and chemical peels.

Acne treatments containing sulphur

Sulphur has been used for a long time to treat acne and can be found in soaps and cleansers. It is a good product to use if you have blackheads or whiteheads although it can be drying to the skin or cause redness. It can also have an unpleasant smell so is less popular than some of the other remedies.

Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is an effective bactericide and some studies have shown that it is as effective as benzoyl peroxide in treating acne. Terpinen-4-ol is the active ingredient which is thought to be responsible for killing Propionibacterium acnes, the bacteria that is the cause of acne. Studies at the Department of Dermatology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Australia showed that using a 5% tea tree oil gel on people with mild or moderate acne was as effective as a 5% solution of benzoyl peroxide although it did take a bit longer to work. It also does not cause the redness and itching sometimes experienced when using benzoyl peroxide products. Tea tree oil should never be applied directly to the skin but diluted to a 5% solution before being applied. You can increase the concentration gradually if this is not effective enough but never go above 15%. You should also apply only to the affected areas not over the whole of your face.

Conclusion

Over the counter acne treatments can be very effective for mild to moderate acne. If you try any of the above give it a few months to work before trying another treatments as none of them are going to work overnight.