How Effective are Over The Counter Products for Acne?


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How effective over-the-counter acne treatments are depends on a few factors. Firstly, whether or not they are suitable for your level of can. If you have mild-to-moderate acne, these treatments could be effective for you. If your acne is more severe, they may not have much of an effect.

The next factor is whether or not you have found the over-the-counter treatment that suits you. Acne can be provoked by a number of different conditions present in or on your skin so different treatments will work better for different people. For example, a high number of acne-causing bacteria can make some people’s acne worse, for this, Benzoyl Peroxide-based products work most effectively as the ingredient kills acne-related bacteria. On the other hand, an excess of dead skin cells, which clog the skin’s pores, worsens some people’s acne. This is best treated with Salicylic acid, which gets rid of the excess skin. Your doctor or dermatologist should be able to advise you as to which product is most suited to your needs.


Another factor is how patient and disciplined you are. Over-the-counter acne products can take up to several months to start to have an obvious effect. For this reason you must persevere with your treatment and make sure you use the product faithfully. Make sure you read the instructions that come with the product carefully and apply the product exactly are instructed.

If you have a suitable kind of acne, find the right treatment and use the product properly you can expect to see good results. There is no cure for acne and it may be some time before you are ‘spot-free’, but, after a few months, you should see an improvement in the number and severity of your acne lesions and this should continue to improve for as long as you use the over-the-counter product.

Alternatives to Over-the-counter Products for Acne

If, after a few months, you see no improvement in your condition it is time to ask your doctor or dermatologist about other methods. They will probably recommend that you try a course of prescription medicine that is usually available in the form of tablets or topical creams.

There are a number of other options, although their usefulness is not proven. These treatments include Light therapy, laser treatment and chemical peels. Cortisone shots can provide a quick fix for individual lesions but have no further use than the temporary improvement of the appearance of single spots.

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