Acne affects almost 17 million people in the United States. Accordingly, pharmaceutical and cosmetics companies have targeted this large market by developing a vast range of skin care products to clean and clear your skin of acne.

In this article, we will cover fads, brands, types of acne products and ingredients that are found in the best acne products to help you tackle that daunting cleansers aisle. After reading, you should have a general idea of the non acne medication options available.

Over the Counter Acne Products

Benzoyl Peroxide

Benzoyl peroxide, the or one of the most common over the counter acne solutions out there, functions by killing the bacteria that causes acne and by eliminating excess skin. The P. acnes bacteria cannot live in an aerobic (with oxygen) environment. Application of benzoyl peroxide introduces oxygen into the follicle, thereby killing bacteria. Benzoyl peroxide can cause drying and flaking of the skin, as well as some level of damage to skin structures due to its creation of free radicals. The infomercial fad Proactiv's main product line uses solutions of benzoyl peroxide.

Salicylic Acid

Pimple products with salicylic acid assist the skin in shedding excess skin cells more efficiently, thereby reducing the likelihood that skin cells will combine with sebum and form pore-clogging keratin. Salicylic acid tends to work well as the main ingredient of whitehead and blackhead products. Stridex, Noxzema and Oxy are popular brands that utilize salicylic acid in their acne lines.

Alcohol and Acetone

Typically as astringents and toners, alcohol and acetone are usually found together when used for acne treatments. The acetone reduces oil found on the skin while the alcohol helps to moderate the amount of bacteria.

Sulfur and Resorcinol

Sulfur and resorcinol usually come together in acne products. The reason that sulfur works, even though it has been in use for more than 50 years as a way to becoming acne free, has still not been agreed upon by scientists. Resorcinol keeps whiteheads and blackheads at bay by eliminating extra skin. Clearsil's 'medicated' blemish line utilizes sulfur and resorcinol as main ingredients.

Natural Acne Products

Tea Tree Oil

Applied topically, tea tree oil works as a strong antibacterial and anti-fungal. The skin can initially be quite sensitive to tea tree oil so application should begin in low concentrations, diluted with water or aloe vera gel.

Licorice Root Extract

Licorice root extract is an antimicrobial that kills the acne-causing bacteria P. acnes. It also is an anti-inflammatory, anti-irritant, antioxidant and sebum inhibitor.

Garlic

Garlic is a natural antiseptic that also contains sulfur.

Alpine Willow Herb Extract

Alpine willow extract is a botanical source of keratolytic salicylic acid and also serves as an antimicrobial.

Helix Aspersa Muller Glycoconjugates

With regard to natural treatments, the top acne products should include this miracle serum. These glycoconjugates stimulate the cell reparation process (proving extremely useful for diminishing the appearance of acne scars) and manage the body's inflammatory reaction to infections. This management effectively reduces the number of damaging chemicals that are released by the white blood cells of the body when fighting against infection, preventing healthy adjacent skin from being harmed in the process. It also uses enzymes to remove extra skin, preventing against clogged pores, and disinfects the skin without causing peeling and flaking.

With so many acne products available, it can be hard to find a solution that gets to the root of acne causes. BIOSKINCLEAR is a natural acne solution that is effective and gentle on the skin. In addition, it is made to comprehensively remove and prevent acne and rosacea, in addition to being a healing acne scar cream.