If you’re struggling with acne, you might have heard about how benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid can clear your breakout. The former helps kill acne-causing bacteria while the latter helps unclog pores and remove dead skin cells. It’s safe to use both medications, but you should be wary of using too much in an attempt to clear up your acne fast.
Brian J. Williams, M.D. and other acne treatment centers in Salt Lake City note that getting rid of your acne fast doesn’t mean using more or using higher concentrations of such medication. Doing so can only irritate your skin. Both benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid have drying agents that can overdry the skin and lead to more blemishes. Note that even in low amounts, they can still remove bacteria and unclog the pores.
Many doctors suggest using such medications a few times in the first week and slowly increasing until you’re using them once a day. If you have sensitive skin, however, you may want to use them every other day or talk to your dermatologist. It’s also best to avoid using different acne medications all the once. The same is also true for believing every remedy you see online.
There’s always the temptation to use more medication if you have a lot of acne or if such treatments don’t produce substantial improvements quickly. If over-the-counter (OTC) products don’t seem to produce desirable results, it’s best to talk to a doctor or dermatologist. This will help you learn more about what’s causing your acne, as well as the proper treatment.
If your dermatologist prescribed an acne medication, be sure to follow the instructions. You also have to keep in that some medications may take several weeks to work or show improvements. There are also instances that your breakouts will get worse before they get better. If the medication, however, doesn’t work after eight weeks, see your dermatologist. They may suggest other treatment options.