Acne can be really cumbersome and irking - everyone who has ever had to struggle with this troublesome condition knows that. Without proper treatment, it never seems to go away for good. At this point, one may ask “What is proper treatment?”. Well, it depends on the type of acne you are dealing with hence adequate diagnosis is key to solving the problem. Nonetheless, another thing which seems imperative in this matter is being persistent with healthy habits or in other words, your skin care routine. In this article you will get to know how to create an efficient balance between those two for achieving the ultimate wellbeing of your skin.
FIRST THINGS FIRST: CLEANSING
As much as it is often overlooked by many, cleansing still plays a very important role in your skincare routine and preventing acne. It is the only way to get rid of all the skin debris which has accumulated on the skin surface throughout the day or the night. To do it right, choose a gentle formula (like the AC Dew Foam) and remain equally delicate with your movements while distributing the product. Use lukewarm water and wash your face twice a day, in the morning and before bedtime, plus after working out.
PIVOTAL POINT: MOISTURIZING
Even if you stock up on the best anti-acne therapies that exist, you will not achieve the results you want without proper moisturizing. At first, it may seem counteractive, nevertheless this step will only work in your favour here. Supplying your skin with water and strengthening its protective barrier regulates sebum secretion via natural hormonal loopback mechanisms - thus, if you moisturize your skin well, the less oil it will produce which only means less acne. Furthermore, well-moistured skin is resilient skin - any harmful microorganisms will be stopped from barging in as well as the used active ingredients will stay and thus act longer in the deeper skin layers. For best effects, choose moisturizers with oils which resemble the natural lipid coat of the skin like Shea Butter or Jojoba Oil (don’t worry, they are not comedogenic) and contain anti - inflammatory antioxidants like plant extracts that are rich in flavonoids. Check out the AC Dew Calamine Moisturizer.
EXFOLIATE
Especially if you are struggling with blackheads or whiteheads, chemical exfoliation will only do good to your skin. Remember to never use mechanical exfoliators on the face since they create microinjuries on the skin and spread germs as well as inflammation - a no-go with acne. Instead, go for safe ingredients like salicylic acid or AHA/BHA acids - see our Clean Lab Peeling Gel.
TARGETED TREATMENTS
If your acne is persistent or seems to only exacerbate with time, it would be a good idea to implement a targeted, prescribed treatment from your doctor. This way, aside from maintaining a proper skin care routine, you will get a chance for a more effective approach. In blackheads, whiteheads and papules, mostly keratolytic substances are being used like retinoids, benzoyl peroxide or azelaic acid. In the typical inflammatory types of acne, one may benefit from antibiotics or in the most severe cases, oral retinoids.