Skin Care For Acne

Caring for your skin is important for good health and beauty, but especially so if you are prone to acne. One of the best ways to keep acne under control is to maintain your skin's health as much as possible. This means keeping the skin clean and protecting it from damage from sunshine and harsh cosmetics.

Cleansing Your Skin

Wash your face twice a day with a gentle soap or special acne skin cleanser, using a gentle, circular motion of the fingertips. Do not scrub, since this can aggravate acne. Moisten the face with warm water, then apply cleanser from the hairline to the neck. Rinse with lots of water and pat dry with a soft towel.

If you're concerned about your acne and wanting to minimize it and prevent future outbreaks, make sure you watch the amount of caffeine you're consuming, and cut back if necessary. Caffeine, found in things like chocolate and coffee, can cause stress and so aggravate acne, therefore reducing it is key to good skin care success.

Those with especially oily skin may need to use an astringent, but it must be alcohol-free, and used with care. Apply it only to the oiliest parts of the face and discontinue use immediately if your skin becomes irritated. If you feel you need an astringent, you may need to see a dermatologist instead.

In order to clear up and prevent acne, make sure you're not actually washing your skin too much. A gentle wash two times a day is recommended. While washing is obviously important for skin care, washing too vigorously or too much can actually harm your skin as it may irritate and dry it out.

Hair care is also important -- shampoo twice a week to as often as daily, keeping the shampoo away from your face as much as possible.

Protect Your Skin From The Sun

One way to control acne that many people forget about does not involve what's on the outside, but rather what's on the inside. Water, which makes up 60% of the human body, is important for skin care. Drinking in at least 2 liters or (8) 8 oz. glasses keeps the skin hydrated, allowing dead skin to shed away normally and preventing blocked pores.

A suntan may dry your skin, making the acne less noticeable, but this is only temporary. As your skin becomes accustomed to sun exposure, the acne will flare up again. Meanwhile you are risking skin damage that can cause premature aging and skin cancer. Many medications that treat acne cause the skin to become more sensitive to sunlight and more vulnerable to burning. Whatever the weather, you should wear sunscreen on your face and any other exposed skin when outdoors.

Sometimes acne can be severe and you need to seek treatment from a licensed Dermatologist. Your Dermatologist can prescribe medications, skin care products, and surgery which would not be available over the counter. Seeking treatment sooner, rather than later, can allow for the most effective cure.

Choose Makeup With Care

The best choice for good acne skin care is to wear no makeup at all. But if you feel you must wear makeup, choose products labeled noncomedogenic -- that means they will not clog your pores. Be aware that these products may still cause acne in some people. Above all, avoid makeup with an oil base. Read the labels carefully and use sparingly.

To eliminate or prevent acne, the first thing you should consider is what your skin comes into contact with. Skin care products, sunscreen, soaps, surfaces and even some foods all have things in them that can cause outbreaks. Analyze your surroundings and look at the labels or research online anything you come into constant contact with, especially the parts of your body where acne breaks out.

Shaving

Try both electric razors and safety razors to see which causes the least irritation to skin blemishes. Always use a sharp blade in a safety razor -- change the blade every 2 or 3 shaves. You may have to shave around blemishes to avoid cutting them. Be sure to soften the beard as much as possible with warm water and shaving cream before starting. If your skin is covered with blemishes, perhaps it is best to skip shaving that day.

Don't wait to see a dermatologist or other professional skin care provider. If you can seek treatment at the first signs of acne, you may be able to avoid having a mild condition turn in to something more serious later. Early intervention, much like that for medical conditions, can really pay off.

No Touching

As tempting as it may be to squeeze pimples, don't! That invites more trouble by spreading the bacteria which cause pimples. It can also lead to permanent scarring.

If you exfoliate as part of your skin care regime, focus on spending time, not exerting force. That is, avoid scrubbing your face hard in order to achieve the amount of exfoliation you desire. Instead, exfoliate for a little longer, which will prevent you from doing damage to your skin, and will promote the healthy, smooth, glowing skin you want.

Try to avoid touching your face as much as possible because the hands carry dirt, oil and germs.

Rest assured that acne can be brought under control. Medications will go a long way toward clearing your skin of acne. Your job is to help the healing process along as much as possible by taking good care of your skin.