When it comes to the causes of acne the most effective acne treatments work in three different areas: unclog pores, kill bacteria and minimize oil production. However, when it comes to home care for acne one major area you need to consider is lifestyle changes. It can be difficult in today’s fast paced world to get eight hours of sleep, eat three good meals and drink eight glasses of water. However, you can still find a way to control your acne at home.
One of the best ways to help with your acne is to apply hot compresses to pustules and cysts, do facials occasionally and never pick or squeeze pimples no matter how much they bother you. No matter how careful and clean you are, popping pimple will always make them stay redder and bumpier longer. If left alone, the redness is a temporary mark that will go away on its own.
The first step in a home acne care system is to open your skin pores. There is no single cleansing product that works for all people and each individual situation. Three options when it comes to cleaning your skin is a mild cleanser, exfoliate and Retinol. Use a mild cleanser in bar or liquid form once or twice a day can help keep your skin clean and minimize any irritation and sensitivity.
Be open to trying different approaches:
You can also find a variety of mild scrubs, exfoliants and masques on the market to use. These products typically have fine granules or salicylic acid to act as mild peeling agents. This will help to remove the outer layer of skin and open up your pores. Other good skin exfoliant products include those that contain glycolic or alpha hydroxyl. Lastly there is the option of Retinol which has nothing to do with the prescription Retin-A. Retinol is a derivative of Vitamin A and can help your skin peel.
The second step in an acne cleansing system is to kill the bacteria on your skin. The most popular option is antibacterial over the counter cleansers that contain benzoyl peroxide. You will often find these products as gels, creams and lotions which you can apply to the affected area. The ingredients in these products will kill the bacteria on the surface of your skin. Just be aware that benzoyl peroxide can cause a red and scaly allergic skin for some people. Since it contains bleach it can also leave blotches on cloths, shirts, towels and carpets.
Lastly you want to reduce the production of oil with an acne home care system. There is no way to completely stop oil production and you actually don’t want to since this can affect your hormones and metabolism. Instead you want to get rid of surface oil which gives the embarrassing shine. To do this you have four options.
The first is to use a gentle astringent/toner to get rid of the oil. Second you can use a product that has glycolic acid or alpha hydroxyl to clear the skin and peel off the superficial layer. Third you can use masques which have sulfur and other ingredients designed to draw out the oil on your face. Lastly you can use antibacterial pads that have benzoyl peroxide to wipe away oil from your skin.
