Skin Care for Acne

Skin care for acne should really start much before the acne actually appears. ‘Acne skin care’ is more about being proactive than reactive. Acne skin care is about being aware of preventive measures. Acne skin care is - following daily skin care routines with complete discipline. So let’s have a look at how ‘acne skin care’ can be applied to our daily routine.

Acne and its treatment...

Then there are specialised acne skin care products that are available over-the-counter i.e. without the need of a prescription. These include products like vanishing creams which extract the extra oil from the skin. Most of these acne skin care products are based on benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, both of which are the enemies of bacteria (and hence acne). You should start with a product that has lower concentration of benzoyl peroxide (e.g. 5%) and see how your skin responds to it. Alpha-hydroxy-acid based moisturizers are also popular as acne skin care products. You might have to try a few, before you zero-in on the acne skin care product that is effective for you. If nothing seems to work, you should contact a dermatologist.

Oily skin – do not overwash. You cannot wash away excessive oil production and you can make your skin irritated and red from too much washing. This is also true of harsh cleansers and toners which contain alcohol. A better approach is to use oil obsorbing papers and top with a little loose powder throughout the day as needed. This keeps your acne medicine and makeup in place while you remove th4e excel oil and shine.

Daily rountine:

Wash with a gently cleanser or one that is designed for acne. Cleanser only need to remove dirt and oil so the ingredients are not terribly important since they won’t be on your skin long enough to make much difference. It is much more important the ingredients in your acne cream or repairing lotion. These are your real acen fighters.

Some experts recommend toners while others claim they are not necessary but many acne programs include a toner that is designed for acne prone skin and are usually very good. Toners need to be mild and are better when they do not contain alcohol. Alcohol is harsh and will dry out your skin, increase redness and inflammation and can really burn! You don’t need a hard toner to be sure your skin is clean.

You must follow washing your face with an acne medication; lotion, cream or gel. This needs to be done morning and night regardless of how your skin looks at any given time. Many people make the mistake of only treating their skin when it is broken out and underestimate how important prevention is. If you are prone to breakouts you need to constantly prevent new ones. Fortunatley formulas today are gentle enough to use everyday with excess peeling or irritation.

It is a good idea to follow your acne medication with an oil free, non-comedogenic moisturizer designed for acne prone skin. Teens with excessively oily skin may not need this are may only need it occasionally, but adults with acen should moisturize as well to avoid the excessive peeling.

After your morning cleansing routine, you need to use a sunscreen. Everyone needs to protect their skin from the sun, but those treating their skin for acne are more sensitive to the effects of the sun due to the ingredients in many acne preparations. It is a good idea to use a sunscreen first and then apply makeup if you choose to use makeup. Most makeups today have sunscreen in them but it will be difficult to apply enough to get as much protection as you need. Sunscreen needs to be applied liberally to gain the spf protection it claims and most of us don’t want to put that much makeup on our face.

You can follow up this routine with a brush of loose powder and your face is protected for the day. That is all you need to do to fight your acne.

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