Acne spot treatments typically consist of four essential ingredients.
Acne spot treatments
Products that may be purchased without a prescription are known as over-the-counter (OTC) acne treatments. These treatments are applied to specific acne lesions to speed up the healing process.
In contrast to other kinds of acne treatments, they are just applied to problem areas of the skin and are not intended to be used all over the face. Some spot treatments are designed to be left on the skin for an entire night, while others dry clear and can be used throughout the day. You may even buy tinted spot treatments that help disguise breakouts while you use them. This is a great option for people who have sensitive skin.
Acne-fighting chemicals are delivered directly to the blemish that is being treated by spot treatments, which is how they function. Local treatments have the potential to alleviate symptoms such as redness, swelling, and pain. They have the added benefit of being able to help loosen or dissolve the blockage within the pore that was responsible for the blemish in the first place.
Spot treatments are only effective for treating small papules and pustules that are located on the surface.
2 Acne scars that are deeper and more serious, such as nodules and cysts, are not something that can be treated with these products. These imperfections develop considerably deeper within the skin, which is why spot treatments are unable to heal them.
There is a wide variety of spot treatments on the market, ranging from inexpensive drugstore buys to pricey fashionable labels. It doesn't really matter which one you choose as long as the active component is one that has been shown to be effective against acne. One of the following is likely to be present in the spot treatments that are the most successful.
Benzoyl Peroxide
The over-the-counter acne treatment that is the most successful is benzoyl peroxide. It is helpful in reducing inflammation and makes the pore an unwelcoming environment for the bacteria that cause acne to hide. However, as it has the potential to be drying, you should only apply it once or twice per day at the most.
Be cautious when using benzoyl peroxide near fabrics such as your towels, bedding, and clothing because it has the potential to bleach them. Be aware that you should not use a benzoyl peroxide spot treatment on top of or underneath Retin-A. (tretinoin). When tretinoin is used with benzoyl peroxide, a chemical reaction takes place that reduces the potency of the medication.
Salicylic Acid
Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid. It assists in removing the dirt that is stuck in the pores of the skin. It is also effective in reducing the size of pustules (pimples with white heads).
Sulfur
Sulfur is another another component that dries out acne and assists in bringing down the inflammatory response. Sulfur, much like benzoyl peroxide, has the potential to make the skin dry.
Differin
There is just one topical retinoid acne therapy that can be purchased without a prescription, and that is Differin, which is a brand name for the medicine adapalene.
Differin is a chemical that is similar to retinoid, and it functions in the same manner. In point of fact, you needed a doctor's prescription to get this medication previously. It does a good job of exfoliating and getting the pores clean.
Making Use of Localized Treatment
In most cases, you will use a very small amount of spot therapy and apply it straight to the zit once or twice per day. It is not necessary to wash it off in any way. Allow the drug to take effect for a minimum of a few hours so that it can enter the pores.
Some products will dry clear, allowing you to use them even after they have been used. Because the others are colored, you should only put them on at night and remove them in the morning. Make sure to read and adhere to the usage instructions included with the product you select, regardless of the option you go with.
Treatment Mistakes
In addition to your regular acne treatment regimen, spot treatments may prove to be beneficial. However, you can utilize them in an inappropriate manner without even realizing it.
Utilizing Them Way Too Frequently
The skin will become drier and more prone to irritation if you use any spot treatment product more frequently than recommended (a good rule of thumb is that you are using it too often if you are applying it more than twice a day). The end consequence may be a pimple that is uncomfortably dry, red, and flaky.
Utilization of Products That Are Not Designed for Use on the Skin
It's likely that you're familiar with some of the more outlandish treatments for acne, such as using Windex, toothpaste, or garlic.
Everyone would be utilizing at least one of those strange treatments if it were shown that any of them were effective. In point of fact, cures of this kind do not function, and they have the potential to seriously irritate the skin.
Lack of Use of Acne Treatment on a Routine Basis
The use of spot treatments will not result in your skin being clearer. They only function on individual zits that are already visible and have formed already in order to be effective.
It is necessary to prevent acne from appearing in the first place if one wishes to have clear skin on a constant basis. This requires a different approach to treating acne than the typical one.
Therefore, despite the fact that spot treatments do have their place, you shouldn't rely on them as your only method of acne therapy.
Finding a Cure for Your Acne
Even though there are treatments that can make acne scars fade away more quickly, the only method to get consistently clear skin is to prevent breakouts from occurring in the first place. This necessitates the administration of acne medication on a regular basis, even in regions that are now clear, in order to maintain those areas clear.
If your acne isn't severe, a product that may be purchased over the counter might be sufficient to treat it. It's time to step things up a notch if your standard acne treatments aren't working enough to prevent new breakouts from appearing on your skin. Think about getting a drug with a doctor's prescription, such as BenzaClin, Retin-A, or isotretinoin. When treating severe acne, it is very necessary to use drugs that require a prescription.
Already taking a treatment that requires a prescription? Inform your dermatologist if you are dissatisfied with the results and explain why. It is possible that you will need to try a different drug. The idea is to clear up your acne to the point where you don't need to bother about utilizing any kind of spot treatment at all.
Put away the over-the-counter spot remedies and make an appointment with your primary care physician if you have a large zit that just won't go away. It's possible that your blemish requires a treatment that's more potent than what you can get from an over-the-counter solution. It's also possible that the problem is not a pimple at all, but rather a boil or some other kind of skin condition. If you are unsure about anything, you should contact your healthcare professional.
