The Most Readily Available Acne Treatments May Not Be the Best For You

How do you know if a certain type of over-the-counter medicine is good or bad for you? Well, technically, you don't, until you see a doctor. But for the record, some over-the-counter (OTC) acne treatments may be safe for use by the general public, especially by those suffering from conditions as common as acne.

While we say acne is a common condition, there are different types of acne. This just underlines the necessity to see a doctor before applying acne treatments of any sort. You may have read up on the different types of acne and have made up your mind that you are afflicted with something that herbal or home remedies can treat, but there's still nothing like the word of an expert! Acne comes in different forms, and should you happen to have one that's more serious than over-the-counter medication can remedy, you might even be making your acne situation worse!

The problem of "self-misdiagnosing" could get you into hotter water than you think. Certain conditions may counter the effects of home remedies, if not set off dangerous side effects. If you are pregnant, for example, you shouldn't be taking acne medication at all! A lot of acne medication taken internally manipulates the hormones, and may upset your body's equilibrium, which is definitely bad for your baby. Fortunately, your doctor ought to be able to prescribe medication for severe cases of acne even if you're pregnant - the important thing is to follow the doctor's instructions to the letter!

If you're taking other medications, you need to be extra careful about the kinds of over-the-counter medicine you take. You may miss an important note in the leaflet or the label that says you cannot take this particular medicine with certain foodstuffs, therapeutic drugs or chemical substances. You need to pay special attention to all the substances you imbibe if you happen to be a regular drinker! Alcohol triggers an adverse effect in most drugs, even those for common ailments.

But let's not be fatalistic. Thankfully, a lot of OTC acne treatments are topical - that is, applied on the skin and not taken internally - and safe for general use.