Pimple Cream Ingredients

If you’re a seasonal acne sufferer, it may mean that the onset of winter brings with it unpleasant skin problems such as redness, irritation and pimples. Winter acne can happen for a number of reasons, but whatever the reason is, it’s likely to send you running for the pimple cream. It’s not hard to find pimple cream, whether you pick it up in the drugstore, grab it at your local supermarket, or order it online. However, it may be tricky to know exactly what you should be looking for in your pimple cream.

What to Look for in Pimple Cream: Active Ingredient

The most effective acne drugs on the market today are salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide. Salicylic acid works by improving the body’s ability to slough off dead skin cells. Since dead skin cells are a major product in acne, this can reduce acne considerably. The other highly effective drug, benzoyl peroxide, works by opening up clogged pores and exposing the products within to oxygen, which kills the acne causing bacteria deep within the skin. If your problem is standard acne vulgaris, one or the other of these products should considerably reduce your acne if used consistently.

What to Look for in Pimple Cream: Secondary Ingredients

You won’t find either of these above ingredients as standalone products. They appear in formulations with other ingredients and must be in the right concentrations. These formulations may also include other ingredients that can be useful to those with problem skin, especially when those problems occur as the result of winter conditions. One of these ingredients is moisturizer. It’s very important to keep the skin hydrated, especially when using a product with an acne fighter like benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid, which can dry out skin. Another of these ingredients is sunscreen. Although you may not feel the heat of the sun during the winter, you are still subjected to skin damaging ultraviolet rays when you leave the house. If your product does not contain moisturizer and/or sunscreen, or you are not using benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid at all, you should still be using a moisturizer and sunscreen to more fully protect your skin.

What to Look for in Pimple Cream: Additional Ingredients

In addition to the ingredients above, some pimple creams may have other properties, such as a concealer to hide acne while it heals, or vitamins to help promote healthy skin. While these are not essential ingredients, they can be a nice addition if they come in a product that you are already considering using.

More on Pimple Creams

Each individual person will have a different skin type that may respond in different ways to various types of treatment. It may be that all you need are a moisturizer and sunscreen and that traditional acne medication is not even that helpful. On the other hand, you could need an acne care system with benzoyl peroxide year round. Don’t be discouraged if the first treatment you try is not as effective as you would like. Persist with your skin care efforts and you will in all likelihood be rewarded with clearer skin.