The skin is the largest organ in the body and your face is covered with it. And everyone knows that the key to looking good is to first have beautiful skin. While many worry about aging or not having that rosy white glow, some worry about the worst skin dilemma of all: acne. They say acne comes with puberty. That’s true for some. But there are those who encounter acne even past their teenage years. And that’s such a predicament. It’s a good thing there are a lot of skin products that cater to such physical problems. But finding the best over the counter acne treatment can be a bit tricky. If you happen to pick a product that’s too strong for your skin you could experience itching, irritation, severe peeling and dryness of the skin. Before you buy anything you have to know what the active ingredient is in that particular product and find out what exactly does it to your skin. Here are four of the best over the counter acne treatment products you could possibly start with:

DermaMed acne gel – This product will deal with the most persistent breakouts and it kills the pain that comes with acne because of its analgesic properties from Arnica extract. And since it has a non-drying formula, it unclogs your pores and treats your skin without irritating it. This gel is perfect for those with pustules, whiteheads and blackheads. The best part is it’s made of natural ingredients like tea tree oil and it works within 48 hours.

Neutrogena rapid clear acne defense lotion – This is another rapid acting acne buster that works by clearing our clogged pores and minimizing them to prevent further breakouts. It’s very refreshing and it rejuvenates the skin. It doesn’t just clear out the acne but also clean your skin from underneath.

Dermalogica medicated clearing gel – If you want to fight acne overnight this is what you should use. It is salicylic acid based; an ingredient that unclogs pores and lets the skin shed dead cells more effectively. This product was designed to clear skin while you sleep. So you wake up with good results. It’s the best over the counter treatment for those in haste.  

DDF BP gel 5% with tea tree oil – This benzoyl peroxide based formula fights skin blemishes and new acne breakouts. Benzoyl peroxide is an active ingredient that kills propionibacteria acnes, the bacteria responsible for breakouts. It also reduces inflammation and it unclogs pores. The DDF BP gel also has tea tree oil that is also anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory, thus you can expect a dual acting treatment and of course dramatic results.

There’s nothing more suffocating for the skin than having clogged pores. Whether they’re whiteheads or blackheads, it’s unpleasant to see skin impurities that prevent your skin from breathing and letting body or facial waste out. Clogged pores are caused by excessive production of sebum by the skin. If your hormones act out and fluctuate, or if your daily diet is filled with mostly fatty and greasy food, then your skin’s sebaceous glands produce more oil than expected. When your skin is too oily, there will likely be bacteria build up and thus your pores get blocked. If they’re partly clogged and darkened then you have blackheads. But if your pores are completely covered, then you have whiteheads. Both kinds of impurities, if left untreated, could lead to the outbreak of acne.

There are several ways to deal with pore clog up, both with cleaning solutions and medications.

The first thing you should put in mind is to wash your face twice daily with a gentle cleanser. Pay attention to your skin time because the type of cleanser you’ll need depends on whether you have dry, oily or combination skin. It would be better if you chose a foaming facial wash or a facial wash with micro beads for deep and thorough cleansing. For an even deeper clean, go to the spa and get a facial once a month. The salon or the spa will be able to take off the dirt that you can hardly see with your naked eye.

Another way to clear out pores is to exfoliate or go through microdermabrasion. Both methods will roughen skin a bit and then take away the oil and the excess dirt afterwards. It will also rid your skin of dead skin cells

It is also good to put on a soothing face mask once a week. This will take out any product residue on your face and it will also absorb excess oil.

If you do not wish to get treated by a dermatologist try using a toner every night after you wash your face. Toners remove dirt and will tighten your pores to keep the bacteria and filth from getting back in.

And to complete your regimen against clogged pores, don’t forget to always moisturize. There is an oil-free moisturizer that leaves your skin smooth but does not leave it greasy. And always re-hydrate your skin with at least 8-10 glasses of water every single day.

Acne can be caused by a variety of reasons such as hormonal imbalance, improper diet, bacterial infection, clogged pores or genetics. But for arm acne, or keratosis pilaris, the acne problem is caused by the clogging of pores. As we all know, our skin sheds dead skin cells everyday and some types of clothing may prevent the skin from naturally shedding off the dead skin cells. When a person prefers wearing tight fit clothing, sebum and dead skin cells may continually pile up and block the pores and lead to arm acne.

Expert dermatologists would advise wearing loose clothing for people who have arm acne. Simple treatments for this dilemma include keeping the arms free from sweat and dirt. At all costs, keep your pores from getting more blockages which will lead to more blemishes on your arms. If you’re a girl and you still want to wear halter tops and sleeveless shirts or if you’re a man who would want to flaunt those biceps while at the gym, then treat your arm acne fast before it worsens.

You can control arm acne and make it go away by cleaning the area regularly and applying anti-acne creams over the area. It is best to start with OTC anti-acne creams. There are lotions and solutions that contain salicylic acid especially formulated for arm acne. If yours is a severe case, ask a dermatologist if he or she can provide you with a prescription for oral antibiotics. You can also ask if they can rather give you a topical antibiotic. In the case of pregnant women, the effects of anti-acne antibiotics are not yet determined so if you’re pregnant, please do not intake anything without consulting your doctor first.

Arm acne takes much longer to treat than regular facial acne. And once they go away, it is easier to just prevent it from occurring again. During summer time, clothes made from natural and light materials such as cotton are preferable. Use these types of clothing in order to let the perspiration and dead skin cells be excreted without blocking the pores.

With this knowledge about treating and preventing arm acne from occurring, you can now undo the things you perennially commit which leads to blemishes on your arms. The simple act of wearing breathable clothes will go a long way in preventing unnecessary expenditures. Follow these tips religiously and start saying goodbye to the perennial problem of arm acne.