Acne is a very common problem among people of many different ages. If your acne is very severe, you will probably want to see a dermatologist, who specializes in skin problems, but in most cases you will probably just go to the drugstore or pharmacy. There are many acne creams and medications available without a prescription. Acne creams are the most common treatment, and with good reason: they are very affordable, and are found almost anywhere. And for most mild cases of acne, they are all that is needed.

Most acne creams commonly found in acne care sections of pharmacies contain benzoyl peroxide, which is a chemical that works to make the skin produce less oil and therefore helping to reduce acne. Like other peroxides it can have a bleaching effect, so don’t spill your acne cream on your clothing. Acne cream with benzoyl peroxide is usually placed directly on the acne pimple, but not on skin that is clear. Some people can be sensitive to it, so if you use an acne cream with benzoyl peroxide and feel like it’s burning your skin, you might want to try a different kind of acne cream that doesn’t contain benzoyl peroxide.

Other ingredients that are sometimes seen in acne creams are more natural plant ingredients, such as aloe vera, chamomile, and feverfew, as well as salicylic acid, which comes from willow tree bark. Some people are concerned with avoiding man-made chemicals and may prefer these types of treatments.

If your acne is a little more stubborn, you may need to try something a little stronger. Your doctor can probably prescribe a stronger type of acne cream than the ones available over the counter, which may clear up the problem. If it doesn’t, you may need to take yet another step up and your doctor can prescribe an oral acne medication instead of a topical one – that is, a pill you swallow instead of an acne cream that goes on your skin.

Depending on the nature and cause of your acne, various other treatments may be prescribed. It is often a good idea to try dual acne therapy, which means taking both an oral prescription and a topical one at the same time. The acne cream prescribed will help the medication by healing from the outside while the oral one prevents further outbreaks and heals the inside of the skin.

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