Over the Counter Acne Care
There are two types of drugs available to acne sufferers: Non-prescription (Over-The-Counter) and prescription. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) determines which drugs fall into these classifications.
OTC stands for over-the-counter
- You can buy OTC drugs anywhere (Drug store/Grocery/Online) without a doctor's prescription
- The FDA has regulations indicate that you can safely use OTC medications by yourself, recommending that you follow the directions on the label
Prescription Drugs
- The FDA determines which drugs are prescription drugs
- You need a doctor's supervision for prescription drugs, and receive them from a Doctor or Pharmacist
- Prescription drugs may contain some of the same ingredients that are in OTC drugs
OTC versus Perscription
Perseverance is required but but once the right routine is found, future outbreaks can be prevented. Most medications need to be used regularly to keep up a constant defense. Prescription treatments tend to be composed of stronger compounds, therefore this can lead to irritation, side effects which are often as upsetting for you as acne itself!
Finding the best OTC that is available can help speed up the process to get your healing underway. This can also save money in doctors fees, but its important to remember if you have any adverse affects to many products to consult a health care professional. Given the FDA's relaxation on classification of some drugs in recent years and their failure to recognize the importance of herbal and botanical ingredients there is an equally good selection of OTC's as there are prescription drugs available for the treatment of acne.
An informed choice is always a wise choice so research the specifics of your problem taking into account age, severity, lifestyle, diet and your willing ness to commit to resolving the problem.
