best over the counter pimpel/acne medication

[BHeemsoth]

I have a few pimples, so normally i get a perscription from my Doctor. I ran out and the doc is away so can anyone reccomend me a commercially available product that works well? and give an approximate price range?

 

[blackdogdeek]

what did your doctor have you on?

 

[notfred]

Get sunburned. It hurts a lot and you're red, but it kills acne. It's cheap, too

 

[DuallyX]

Xacto Knife....

 

[Chunkee]

propane torch

 

[dejacky]

Xacto Knife....

DuallyX,
that's horrible, but I like it!

Probably the most effective counter acne medication I know is called "pro active" look for it on the web.

 

[StageLeft]

Basically most all over the counter meds suck balls. All I could recommend is something with a very high concentration of benzyl peroxide which is applied directly to the pimple. I can say that out of all of the things I've tried only two have ever worked: 1) Acutane (prescription and a nasty one at that), 2) Those alcohol pads. Unfortunately they made my face dry and red, but I think the zits were gone. They may have just been camoflauged though.

 

[Vortex22]

The only thing that worked for me was Accutane. That's perscription only though.

 

[dejacky]

i've heard the same about accutane. What are the side effects?

 

[Spoooon]

Originally posted by: dejacky
i've heard the same about accutane. What are the side effects?

When I was on Accutane, I had super dry skin. My lips were almost always chapped. If I tried to eat something, they would split and I would bleed all over. Accutane sucks the big one.

I don't have an acne problem, but for the occasional pimple, Oxy works for me.

 

[Colt45]

isopropanol?

 

[blackdogdeek]

Originally posted by: dejacky
i've heard the same about accutane. What are the side effects?

iirc, when i was taking it my skin would get extremely dry and i had to moisturize at least daily after showers and i had to make sure i had lip balm with me all the time.

also, i had to have my blood tested monthly to make sure my liver could handle the processing of the drug.

there's also numerous warnings on the packaging that pregnant women should not even handle the capsules.

 

[liv303]

Accutane side effects:

For all:
Dry skin, lots of peeling
Very dry lips - five years latter and I'm still addicted to chapstick
Possible liver problems - blood tests every month to make sure it's not damaging your liver

For women:
Pregenancy tests every month usually accompanied with the requirement to take birth control if sexually active.
-Why? Accutane causes severe birth defects, to the point where if you become pregnant, abortion is recommended.

If you're already using prescription meds to heal acne, then over the counter stuff will not help you. I have tried Proactive and it helps clear away
everything but cystic acne. (For me anyway)

 

[T2T III]

Ugh - thanks for this thread. I have about 10 pimples on my knee from wearing knee pads this past week. Granted, the pimples on my knees won't have a major effect on my social life ... but, they hurt like heck.

 

[Encryptic]

Originally posted by: dejacky
i've heard the same about accutane. What are the side effects?

I was on it in high school. It dried the crap out of my skin, even the inside of my nose. It does work (I was a serious pizzaface in high school for a while before taking Accutane), but you have to stay on it for a while and get your blood work done regularly to make sure it doesn't screw up your liver.

As far as OTC stuff, I've been using Stridex for a while since I have pretty oily skin that creates zits. It does seem to work reasonably well if I use it regularly on my face and neck.

 

[StageLeft]

I was on accutane twice. First time was a low dosage. It worked decently with only limited dryness. I was happy. 6 months later it returned (acne). I wenton a higher dosage (still nothing crazy). I had to bail about half way through the treatment. I remember chapped lips, a nose that just loved to bleed (heck I doubt my nose picking helped that situation!), and of more significant concern was that I seem to recall my eyes being in pain.

I mainly just recall that it was doing bad things to my body, and I realized that acne was not worth it. When you're younger you don't care about side effects but now that I'm older I have wondered if they caused any. The stuff works, but I'd really think long and hard before taking the plunge on something as serious a medicine as acutane.

 

[ragazzo]

avoid greasy foods, wash twice a day (before heading out for the day & once you get home) and most importantly, don't touch your face.

 

[Walleye]

i think learning how to spell pimple would be a good approach...

but seriously... um, scrubbing your face?