— If you are pregnant or nursing it is recommended by many doctors and chemists that you do not use any acne fighting products for curing or treating acne, particularly retinols.
— The skin care products proven to help fight acne are Benzoyl Peroxide, Vitamin A Retinols, Beta Hydroxy Acids, Alpha Hydroxy Acids, sulfur and some peptides. If you buy products with these ingredients you are probably on the right track to controlling your acne with proper acne treatment.
— Benzoyl Peroxide is the #1 killer of the bacteria that causes acne. Some people experience dryness and irritation from benzoyl peroxide particularly in the beginning of using it. If this is the case for you, change your acne treatment routine by applying the cream or gel for one hour and then rinse off. Do this for one week and then increase the leave-on time to three hours for one week. Increase slowly until you can leave the product on all night without irritation. This can be a time consuming endeavor, but can also be well worth the efforts, thanks to benzoyl peroxide’s effectiveness in reducing acne.
— If you experience itchiness and swelling you should stop using benzoyl peroxide immediately and begin taking an antihistamine such as Benadryl for a couple of days. Cold compresses will help any swelling. The medical literature reports that the rate of true allergic contact dermatitis to benzoyl peroxide is from 0.2% to 1% of the population.
— Great tip for help with cystic adult acne treatment; rub an ice cube over your acne for five minutes (but not any longer than five minutes). It provides an anti-inflammatory action to acne and is very effective for cystic acne.
— The leftover red spots or brown hyperpigmentation spots of acne will disappear over time. Typically three months to a year. You can speed up the acne healing process with a hydroquinone gel or a tyrosinase inhibitor product with niacinamide.
— Iodides, found in sea salt, kelp, shell fish and some multi-vitamins, have been shown in medical studies to irritate acne. Check your multi-vitamin for this acne irritating supplement. Some say cutting back on salty foods in general can be helpful as well.
— We spend up to 8 hours a day on our pillowcases. Acne hosts the bacterium Propionibacterium acnes. Change your pillowcases every few days if you need acne helpful.
— Alpha Hydroxy Acids and Beta Hydroxy Acids are very good for blackheads and can help combat acne bumps as well.
— Many people with oily skin do NOT need a moisturizer. Those of us who have experienced oily skin know the uncomfortable feel of oil on the top layer of our skin. Some people with oily skin have plenty of oil already and do not need more. Oily skin people may like a hydrating serum which can be applied within a totally oil free product. They also can get their sun protection in a full spectrum spf 30 in powder form, so no need for a cream to get sun protection! Often a glycolic or salicylic acid product will help reduce oil production and help acne.
— Always wash your face at the end of the day to remove pore clogging makeup, sebum and pollution. In the mornings it’s ok to just use water and a washcloth (to help with over dry or irritated skin).
— Exfoliators with sharp buffers like nut shells irritate acne and can make it worse. If you like the feel of a buffing cleanser make sure to use one with spherical exfoliating ingredients only.
— Facial masks made with food can be effective and therapeutic. However, if you have acne these products are not usually recommended. Food can cause bacterial growth in the skin, and for people with acne, this can lead to an increase in acne.
— The skin on the back and shoulders is much thicker than the skin on your face, so you can use stronger products for acne treatment help on these parts. The neck can have thinner skin and be more sensitive. Proceed slower in treating the neck for acne.
— A great resource for understanding many interesting facts about acne treatment and help from Dr. James Fulton, M.D., Ph.D., Dermatologist, –
The Acne Rx
