Certain Active Ingredients to Treat Acne:

1. Benzoyl peroxide - Helps remove excess oils from skin and dead skin cells that clog pores. Can cause excessive dryness, redness, stinging, and scaling of skin, , especially if you have oily sensitive skin. It is a bleach and can affect hair and bleach clothing on contact. 2. Salicylic acid - Slows shedding of cells that clog pores and reduces inflammation. Can cause stinging and skin irritation. There are increasing reports of salicylic acid, or salicylate sensitivity. 3. Alpha hydroxy acid - These are fruit acids that help remove dead skin cells and help reduce inflammation. Also helps stimulate growth of new, smoother skin to help reduce acne scars. 4. Sulfur - This active ingredient has an unpleasant odor and is used to remove dead skin cells and excess oil. 5. Abrasive soaps - You don't need to wash hard to remove dirt from your skin. In fact, abrasive soaps and cleansers may irritate your skin, more than help clear acne.