Science has come a long way since the discovery of benzoyl peroxide in the 1920s.And recent scientific breakthroughs are helping to make acne medications work even better.
Before you choose your next acne treatment, learn more about the science-and the two active ingredients-in most acne medications.
But first, let’s look at the science of pimples themselves. Comedones (the medical term for blackheads or whiteheads) start out as skin pores that become clogged with dirt or sebum (oil produced by the skin’s sebaceous glands). The warm, enclosed pore environment allows Propionibacterium acnes, a common bacterium, to flourish. The inflamed pores swell, becoming red and often painful. Treating comedones requires removing the dirt, oil, and bacteria so that the pore can heal.
Many over-the-counter and prescription acne care products use one of 2 active ingredients: benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid, mixed into creams and lotions at very low concentrations. Both work in a similar way by causing the skin to peel. New skin cells replace the old ones, clearing out dead skin, dirt, and bacteria from the pores along the way. Salicylic acid also prevents dead skin cells from clumping together, making them easier to wash away. The higher the concentration of active ingredient, the more effective it is. Unfortunately, some people with sensitive skin may experience itching, burning, and dryness at the beginning of treatment with products containing higher concentrations of benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. Usually, these reactions subside with continued use.
The challenge in treating acne is breaking up the oil on the surface of the pore in order to get to the bacteria underneath. Neutrogena has recently developed a new technology that actually dissolves oil, to allow low concentrations of salicylic acid to penetrate deep into the pore to eliminate bacteria quickly at the source. While continuing to work under the surface, the technology includes special conditioning agents to keep skin from drying and flaking. Learn more about Neutrogena acne care products that use this breakthrough science.
As with all health concerns, see a doctor if you have questions. "Mild to moderate acne can usually be treated with over-the-counter products," Dr. Yohini Appa, Executive Director of Scientific Affairs for Neutrogena, advises. "But if your skin doesn't respond or worsens after a few weeks, or you develop cystic pimples, it's important to see a dermatologist."
References:
