If you are starting to struggle with acne, this information may help you to maintain acne under control. On the last post, I shared with you information regarding the different acne treatments/medications and I mentioned two over-the-counter medications that have been proved to be effective against acne. Those were: saliclyic acid and benozyl peroxide.
Those medications, you can find them almost anywhere, especially on the most marketed brands such as Neutrogena, Clean and Clear, Proactiv, Murad, Exposed skin, Acne Free, Noxema and more.
My personal experiences have been with Neutrogena, Proactive and Clean and Clear, but I have had good word from Murad and Exposed Skin. Neutrogena and Proactive have been my back ups in case I couldn't get hold on my medications, either because I don't have the money to get hold of them or my medical plan had been cancelled. They both have been able to hold the fort for a little while, but my acne type is stronger, so my face starts to flare up with acne.
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Like at this moment, since my recent medical plan was cancelled by my employer because of Obama Care, now I have to wait for at least 30 days to get my new medical card, until then I can't get hold of my medications, because of how expensive they are. Once I get my new medical plan, I'll get my medications, because it had proved to be more effective for me to my type of acne, than the over-the-counter products.
Just for you, who may be wondering what are the medications I've been prescribed by my dermatologist, this are "epiduo" (which contains 2.5% benozyl peroxide with 0.1% adapalene) and "aczone" (which containes 5% dapsone) this are both topical medications and they have been great to my type of acne, my skin today is flawless. I may get once in a while one pimple, but that is something normal, even people with perfect, flawless skin gets one.
So now, let's stop the talking and go to business. Below I'll give you some recommendations by my experience and by recommendation given to me by dermatologists through the years treating my acne:
Hygiene is very important for acne prone skin. If you suffer of acne in your face, back, shoulders, chest, stop using soap that could clog your pores and do not scrub it, very important. Also, stop washing your face or body more than twice a day, why, because overwashing and scrubbing can cause skin to become irritated. Believe me when I tell you it will make your acne worst, I'm telling you by experience.
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- The American Academy of Dermatology recommends using oil-free soap or cleansers that contains benozyl peroxide or salyclic acid to treat acne for your face and body. You could definitely get this over-the-counter. By my experience I have used to wash my face Cetaphil, Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash/Cream Cleanser 2.5%, Proactive face acne treatment 2.5% Benozyl Peroxide, and Proactive face acne treatment 2.5% Benozyl Peroxide and Clean and Clear 10% Benozyl Peroxide (this one had been to harsh for my skin). For the Body: .Neutrogena Body Wash, Panoxyl 10% benoxyl peroxide for the body and Proactive face acne treatment 2.5% Benozyl Peroxide.
- When you go buy a face wash, please make sure is Oil-free. To start an acne treatment, it's preferably if it contains, Benozyl Peroxide or Saliclyic acid and wash your face twice a day. If you see it irritates your face to much, then reduce it to once a day instead, until your skin gets use to it.
- Get a acne treatment medication cream preferably containing benozyl peroxide, since it's purpose is to kill the acne bacteria. You can put it on, after you cleanse your face with the acne wash or oil free wash. It is recommended to put on twice a day, before you go to bed and in the morning for best results. But, if it irritates to much, use it once a day.
- Get yourself a Oil-free moisturizer for your face and body to maintain it hydrated. I prefer cetaphil, because it's gentle to my skin. You can use another brand, but make sure is oil-free.
- For girls, use make-up that is oil-free foundations and "won't clog pores", "non-comedogenic", "non-acnegenic" powders, blushes or anything that you may put on your face. Wash the make-up brushes constantly. I use, baby shampoo for it. Also, VERY IMPORTANT remove your make-up and wash your face before you go to bed and do your routine.
- DON'T POP THE PIMPLE! I know how frustrating it is, but it's something my dermatologists told me all the time and my scars are prove of it. It's a bad idea... you pop it it can come back worst, your skin gets scarred and it can get infected, which then the heal process is longer. I know it sucks, but believe me, it's a big no no.
- DON'T touch your face or pimple with your hands, rubbing it makes thing worst and spread the bacteria. LEAVE IT ALONE. Try to use your phone on speaker, or use hands-free devices such as Bluetooth's. Also, make sure to wash your hands before you wash your face, or when you put any type of cream or make-up on your face.
- If you wear glasses or sunglasses, make sure you clean them frequently to keep oil from clogging the pores around your eyes and nose.
- If you get acne on your body, try not to wear tight clothes. They don't allow skin to breathe and may cause irritation. Scarves, headbands, and caps can collect dirt and oil, too.
- Keep hair clean and out of your face to prevent additional dirt and oil from clogging your pores.
- Protect your skin from the sun. It may seem like a tan masks acne, but it's only temporary. A tan may worsen your acne, not improve it. Tanning also causes damage to skin that will eventually lead to wrinkles and increase your risk of skin cancer.
Acne treatments, take around 12 weeks before you see results and it can also get worst during that period, but don't give up. If you see, things may not be working and you see your acne breakouts don't seem to stop after that period, my recommendation is to go visit and search the help of a dermatologist, believe me they can help find the best treatment for you.
Source:
http://kidshealth.org/
Hopefully this article can be useful and helpful for you to treat your acne.
Big hug,
Allie
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