There are a number of ingredients that are commonly found in acne fighting products. You will find the most common ones below:
Salicylic acid
Salicylic acid is found in most acne-fighting cleansers and skin care products. This ingredient slows shedding of cells inside the hair follicles to stop pores from clogging, which can result in acne. Most over-the-counter products contain 2% salicylic acid.
Benzoyl peroxide
This kills the bacteria that cause acne, helps remove excess oils from the skin and removes dead skin cells that clog pores. It is commonly available as a topical skin ointment or cream, but it is also present in some cleansers.
Sulfur
This element is often combined with other ingredients, such as salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide or resorcinol. It removes dead skin cells that clog pores and helps remove excess oil.
If your skin becomes irritated or inflamed, or it starts to peel excessively after using medicated acne-fighting products, it may be time to scale back or switch to something less aggressive. Talking to a dermatologist about your options can help you narrow down brands and products to those that won’t harm your skin but which will still deliver the results you want.
It is important to note that salicylic acid and a number of other ingredients commonly found in acne fighting products should be avoided when pregnant.
