Drugs and Brand Names
It always happens. Whenever you have a successful (at least financially) acne treatment such as Proactiv Solution, dozens of imitators are sure to follow, often with nearly identical formulas featuring just enough variation to keep the lawyers away. It’s a phenomenon that’s certainly not unique to the acne treatment market, but is often especially visible here. And since these products are often cheaper than the established brand names, they can present a real choice to consumers.
The first thing to understand is that drugs are drugs. The FDA keeps a tight watch on these substances, and if two products both state that they use 2.5% benzoyl peroxide as the main active ingredient, you can be sure that the substance is of the same quality and effectiveness. Tylenol may have a different brand name than generic acetaminophen, but they are both the same substance.
Because of drug regulations, products that use the same active ingredient in the same concentration and quantity are going to have about the same effectiveness against acne. Thus, for the average acne sufferer, the generic brand is going to work about the same as the brand name. But what about all those non-active ingredients? In most drug-based acne treatments these have little effect in actually combating acne, but they may help protect the skin in other ways. For instance, aloe is a popular add-in for the purpose of moisturizing the skin against the otherwise harshly drying effects of ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid.
So for drug-based treatments, a generic product that closely imitates the brand name will generally work just as well, but what about for natural treatments such as vitamins and herbs? In principle, the same should hold true. However, this isn’t always the case. Unlike with drugs, the FDA does not regulate natural vitamin-based or herbal treatments. Each state or country can have different manufacturing standards, and so the concentration and purity of substances may vary.
It pays to understand how an acne treatment that you’re considering works, and it can save you money - either by finding alternative products or by simply not wasting money on products that work identically to others you’ve tried and found ineffective. Take a look at the ingredients to make an educated decision.
