Having a acne is never fun.  Whether it is occasional or a regular occurrence, acne is inconvenient and annoying. And yes, acne is terrible when you are an awkward teenager but what about when you are an adult?  In your career.  On the dating scene.  Advancing toward the next milestone of your life.  In a perfect world, adulting would never include fighting acne.

But it’s not a perfect world and adult acne is a real thing. While some people may think focusing on physical appearance is vain and self centered, those struggling with adult acne know better.  Oftentimes, there is an embarrassment and isolation as well as physical and emotional scarring that is overlooked.

To cope, some adult acne sufferers may chalk it up to breakouts being their lot in life.  Depending on the severity, some may suffer depression and find it difficult to leave the house while others will spend time and money undergoing treatment.  The latter is always an option in treating acne but there are also over the counter (OTC) options that can help banish acne. When going with OTC options, it’s important to know about the various ingredients and what they do for the skin. As with any skin care routine and treatment, if you want to see results, you have to be consistent. Continue reading to get the 411 on these popular acne fighting ingredients.

Niacinamide. Also known as vitamin B3, niacinamide has multiple skin benefits such as helping with the appearance of enlarged pores, fine lines and wrinkles. It also helps to fight whiteheads and blackheads, brightens the skin and helps to reduce redness. The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%.

Glycolic Acid. This popular AHA (alpha hydroxy acid) which is derived from sugar cane is the master at exfoliation and skin clearing. Having the smallest molecule, it is able to penetrate deeper into the skin to help clear up acne, dullness, scarring, fine lines and wrinkles to reveal smoother, brighter skin. Rodial Glycolic Booster Drops.

Salicylic Acid.  This BHA (beta hydroxy acid), salicylic acid is an anti-inflammatory ingredient that treats whiteheads and blackheads.  Performing like Drain-o, salicylic acid dives past oil and gunk to get down to the pores to clear them out and dissolves the “glue” that holds the sticky cells together.  Although salicylic acid is found in most acne treatments, it does not kill bacteria.  Zitsticka Killa Kit.

Benzoyl Peroxide. An old school acne fighting ingredient, benzoyl peroxide, which is perfect for whiteheads, kills the bacteria that causes acne and keeps pores from being blocked. Found in concentrations between 2.5% and 10%, it is best when used on a continual basis. Proceed with caution because it can be drying to the skin and cause redness. Paula’s Choice CLEAR Extra Strength Daily Skin Clearing Treatment.

Sulfur.  Another ingredient that kills the bacteria that causes acne, sulfur can be used to treat mild cases.  It is keratolyic – meaning it dries the skin and makes the epidermis thinner.  Sulfur helps to reduce oil and has anti-microbial properties and helps diminish whiteheads and blackheads. Clearogen Sensitive Skin Acne Lotion.

Retinoids. If you are looking for a product with an ingredient that addresses multiple concerns, retinol might be for you. A derivative of vitamin A, retinol is anti-aging in that it helps with fine lines and wrinkles. As an exfoliator, it helps refine skin texture and pores as well as helps to speed up cell turnover to reveal new skin. Retinol is also an anti-inflammatory and helps to reduce oil production. You may experience drying if you have dry skin. Use at retinol products night and use a sunscreen during the day. Treats whiteheads and blackheads. Differin Gel.

Hyaluronic Acid. Usually when people have acne, their skin might be more oily than dry. And those with oily skin may skip the hydration piece of their skin care routine because they feel they don’t need it. This could not be further from the truth. As a matter of fact, not moisturizing your skin can leave your skin unbalanced and unprotected – think dryness and bacteria. This can lead to more breakouts. Technically, hyaluronic acid is not an acne fighting ingredient but keep skin balanced which supports skin health and can lead to a reduction in acne. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel.

Kaolin Clay. This particular clay has multiple uses including cleansing the hair and teeth but is most popular for skin care. As one of the most gentle clays, kaolin is neutral in ph and is used for many cosmetic purposes. Not only does kaolin clay exfoliate the skin, it also draws out oil dirt and other impurities to help purify the skin. Although it works for all skin types, it is very mild and can work for dry and sensitive skin. Sand & Sky Australian Pink Clay Pore Refining Clay Mask.

Light Therapy. This kind of treatment uses different colors (blue and red) of visible light to treat acne. Red light, which stimulates collagen, not only treats anti-aging but helps with inflammation and helps to reduce oil production. Blue light is anti-bacterial and helps to reduce the appearance of pores and active breakouts. Neutrogena Light Therapy Acne Spot Treatment.

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