The Basics Of Taking Care Of Acne

Most adult acne sufferers had probably thought that this affliction would pass with the end of their teenage years. They thought that once the raging hormones of adolescence slow down, their acne would clear up as well. For some people that did not happen and controlling acne has become something to be concerned with during adult life as well. Luckily, there are many weapons in the battle to treat acne . The acne sufferer must both keep the pores of the skin unclogged and work on unclogging already infected pores.

One must keep at bay the bacteria that cause the infection and redness of acne and reduce any redness that is already present. The best line of attack is to apply preventive measures to avoid an acne breakout altogether. Caring for your face with a gentle washing once or twice daily using just soap and water can make all the difference in keeping your pores clear. In addition to this, applying benzoyl peroxide will aid in drying out the skin as well as cleaning it even further. Benzoyl peroxide is the active ingredient in most over the counter facial wipes such as Oxy Pads. One of the truly nice things about using benzoyl peroxide is that it can be coupled with other acne treatments.

Using exfoliation has become a common technique in acne control. The removal of dead skin cells through exfoliation can help prevent them from clogging the pores of the skin, which in turn aids in preventing acne. The skin revealed by exfoliating is new, smooth, and much more healthy looking.

It is important to know, however, that many of the agents found in exfoliating products can be very irritating to your skin. Before using them on your entire face, a small area of your skin should be tested to check for any negative reactions to these agents. Some products for acne control have a double purpose. Exfoliating products not only remove the dead skin cells from the surface of your skin, but they also offer the benefits of anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory products. Both of these ingredients can help to treat the existing acne and reduce the redness and swelling that often accompanies an acne attack. Common ingredients in other acne products are azelaic acid and sulfur.

It is wise to test any product before using it on your entire face. If the product you intend to use contains salicylic acid, you should be very cautious. It can be effective in preventing the clogging of your pores, but is very harsh and irritating to the skin of the face. For very persistent or severe acne a consultation with a dermatologist may be needed. The dermatologist can help set up an effective cleansing routine.

He or she may also use lasers or write a prescription to fight tougher cases of acne. Acne medications can be very harsh, and you should be made aware of any possible side effects by your doctor. Not everyone needs to see a dermatologist for their acne condition.

For some people the over the counter treatments are just fine and work great. If they solve your acne problem you will avoid the expense and dangers of taking prescription acne medications into your body, and suffer possible negative side effects.

You can learn all about the best treatment for acne scarring and the most effective acne control methods at author Frank Senturi's web site.