Acne Control Basics
There are many preventative measures you can take to reduce the chance of having an acne breakout in the first place. The essential methods of acne control are to keep pores from getting clogged, unclog infected pores, attack the bacteria causing the infection, or reduce the redness associated with acne.
Acne control is effortless for some, but, for others, acne control may seem impossible, especially in the teenage years. During this time, many people feel as though they are going through a never-ending acne breakout, although there are a lot of people who fall in between these extremes. Regardless of which category you fall in, acne control can be a reality if you can find the right way to treat acne.
The essential methods of acne control are to keep pores from getting clogged, unclog infected pores, attack the bacteria causing the infection, or reduce the redness associated with acne. There are many preventative measures you can take to reduce the chance of having an acne breakout in the first place. Gently washing your face with soap and water once or twice a day will help prevent your pores from being clogged. Beyond this, benzoyl peroxide, which is the active ingredient in Oxy pads and many other cleaning wipes, helps to further clean your skin as well as dry it out. One of the biggest advantages of using benzoyl peroxide is that it can be used in combination with other products to treat acne.
Exfoliating is another very popular method of acne control. Exfoliating removes the dead skin cells from the surface of your skin. These dead cells can cause acne breakouts by clogging extremely active oil glands, especially those on your face. Exfoliating can also make you skin much smoother, softer, and healthy. However, some exfoliating agents can be very harsh, so a new exfoliating product should first be tested on a small area for reactions before using on your entire face.
One benefit of using exfoliating products to treat acne is that many of them contain additional ingredients that have antibacterial properties to help with acne control, as well as anti inflammatory ingredients that reduce the redness and swelling, and therefore visibility, of existing acne breakouts. Sulfur and Azelaic acid are two commonly used ingredients in facial exfoliating creams and wipes. Salicylic acid is also common, but should not be used on the face, as it is far too abrasive.
Some products for acne control have a dual purpose. Exfoliates not only remove the dead skin cells from the surface, they are also offer the benefits of antibacterial and anti-inflammatory products. Both of these ingredients can help to treat the existing acne and reduce the redness and swelling that often accompanies a breakout. Other common ingredients are sulfur and Azelaic acid. One ingredient to be cautious of using on the face is salicylic acid. While this ingredient can help to prevent the pores from clogging, it is too irritating to facial skin.
Some people with severe acne may need to consult a dermatologist for help with their acne control. A dermatologist may suggest a cleansing regime, use lights or lasers to treat and prevent breakouts, or prescribe medication. If you are prescribed medication, you should be wary of the side effects, as most acne medication is very harsh, even toxic. Some of these numerous side effects are somewhat discomforting, but others are very permanent. A few acne prescriptions have even been linked with depression, sometimes resulting in suicide.
If you are hesitant to go to a dermatologist for prescription treatments, you could try some of the over-the-counter treatments first. You might find that one of the more inexpensive and easily available acne care products like benzoyl peroxide might work best for you, and you'll avoid the dangers of harsh acne control medication.
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