|
Click Here
for more Articles
|
|
|
|
The
Truth About Acne Skin Care
|
|
by:
John Lenaghan
|
Let's
face it, you are engaged in an ongoing battle when you are afflicted
with acne. While acne treatments for a mild case of acne are usually
successful, moderate acne is a greater problem. Even dermatologists
cannot cure a severe case of acne but can only provide an acne
treatment regimen.
However, you can support your acne treatment efforts with proper acne
skin care in order to reduce the recurrence of acne flare-ups and not
aggravate existing acne.
Knowing What You're Doing
One of the first pieces of advice is to make sure that you understand
and follow the directions for any acne remedy that you are using. If
you are taking a prescription acne medicine, read the patient leaflet
that accompanies the medication carefully. Typically for moderate to
severe acne a dermatologist may prescribe several acne medicines, each
with its own treatment protocol and directions.
In order to achieve the acne free skin that you desire, it is important
to use all the acne treatments properly and in the correct order.
Consider bringing a tablet of paper, a pen, and a friend or relative
with you to your appointment with your dermatologist. Simply jot down
some notes about the order and time of day for applying each acne
medicine and what its purpose is.
Remember, just because the acne clears with the use of your acne
medicines doesn’t necessarily mean that you have succeeded in curing
acne. Most people with moderate to severe acne must continue to use
their acne medicine long-term to prevent any recurrence of their acne
problem. Using the acne treatments properly should translate to clear
skin and freedom from acne scars.
What About Over-the-Counter Remedies?
Besides using medications prescribed by a doctor, there are a large
number of products on the market labeled as skin cleansers, facial
cleansers, pore cleansers, and facial pore cleaners that can be used in
curing acne.
When cleansing skin that is afflicted with acne, an important point to
remember is not to scrub the skin; never scrub your face with a
washcloth. It is a misconception that acne is caused by dirt clogging
the pores of the skin. You don’t scrub away the offending dirt; you
can’t scrub away the offensive acne and achieve acne free skin.
Over-washing or scrubbing skin afflicted with acne only serves to
aggravate the condition. Rather use only a gentle skin cleanser,
lukewarm water, and a gentle motion with your fingertips as your
primary acne skin care regime. When you wash your face with your hands,
be sure to first thoroughly wash your hands.
Do Natural Treatments Really Work?
Look for gentle cleansers that are sold as acne solutions. When you're
evaluating skin cleansers for acne, include natural acne treatments in
your search as well. For example, a soap made from Echinacea and other
herbal ingredients is an effective antibiotic facial cleanser that
helps fight acne and restore clear skin. Tea tree oil also has known
antibiotic properties and serves as a mild anesthetic that will soothe
the irritated skin.
Oily skin is implicated as a one of the causes of acne. It doesn’t
necessarily make sense to use a moisturizer on oily skin as a means of
achieving clear skin. But many of the acne treatments, whether they are
prescribed or available as over-the-counter products, have a tendency
to irritate the skin while curing acne.
A moisturizer is a boost to irritated skin and keeps skin from becoming
overly dry due to the acne treatments that have been applied. Look for
a moisturizer with the following properties:
- oil-free
- won’t clog pores (non-comodogenic)
- containing a sun-screen
Besides a great desire to just scrub away the acne, many people try to
remove the acne pimples by hand as a way to get clear skin. People who
are afflicted with acne should avoid touching their face except to
gently wash it with mild cleanser as already discussed.
By trying to remove pimples by hand you run the risk of creating acne
scars that will last for a lifetime. Instead, have patience and rely on
your prescription or over-the-counter acne treatment to work. Acne
remedies usually take 6 to 8 weeks before curing acne.
For male acne sufferers, the daily ritual of shaving can be a problem.
One acne sufferer has recommended the Gillette Sensor Excel as a gentle
and effective razor to use. Other males prefer to try an electric
razor. The advice is to shave delicately to avoid nicking the skin and
to shave only as often as necessary. Finding a moisturizing shave gel
may be one way to enhance your acne skin care program.
Female acne sufferers have their unique problems too, in finding the
right cosmetic products to use. Females who are accustomed to using a
foundation product may find that the foundation is difficult to apply
smoothly if the facial skin becomes irritated due to the acne
treatments being applied.
You may have to abandon the use of some cosmetics during the acne
treatment period. Be sure to select only oil-free cosmetics and ones
that are labeled as non-comodogenic (won’t clog pores) to use on your
road to clear skin.
Proper acne skin care is a necessary addition to your arsenal for
fighting your battle with acne and achieving clear skin once again.
About the author:
John Lenaghan offers information and advice about the best acne
treatments and skin care at the Acne Squad website. Visit http://www.acnesquad.comfor
more information about dealing with acne.
|
|
