What are the most important elements of acne skin care?

 

Caring for acne-prone skin requires some extra care—reading cosmetic ingredient labels to use products that won't clog pores or make acne worse. 

 

Cleansing the skin

It is recommended to use cleaning products specially created for skin with acne .

 

Products that help clear acne contain salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide.

 

It is important to clean the skin with gentle movements so as not to worsen the acne or lead to scarring.

 

Using a terry cloth or other fabrics can make the acne worse .

 

Skin hydration

In fact, moisturizing creams are an essential part of an acne skin care routine .

 

Acne treatments that are recommended by a professional may contain drying ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide, which can strip moisture from the skin and make it look red and irritated.

 

A good hydrating product will retain water in the skin and help you avoid unpleasant dryness and flaking.

 

It's important to use lightweight, oil-free moisturizers labeled "non-comedonogenic"—meaning they won't clog pores .

 

It is important that they contain ingredients such as glycerin and hyaluronic acid, which retain moisture in the skin .

 

It is recommended to avoid heavy, oily products that contain ingredients that cause acne and breakouts, such as cocoa butter, mineral oil or cooling creams.

 

Exfoliation and face masks

Face masks and scrubs have very little effect on improving acne.

 

A gentle, non-abrasive cleanser that's formulated for your specific skin type —oily, dry, or combination—will do much more to keep your face acne-free.

 

Shaving without acne

Shaving can be both a plus and a minus for a man's skin if he has acne.

 

The plus is that shaving every day acts as a natural exfoliant, opening the pores so that excess sebum does not accumulate.

 

Shaving the wrong way or using the wrong products can make  acne worse . 

 

A non-irritating and nourishing shaving gel or shaving foam containing benzoyl peroxide or a topical antibiotic designed for acne patients is recommended.

 

It is important to shave in a downward direction, in the direction of hair follicle growth, to prevent irritation.

 

After shaving , the use of lotions containing alcohol is not recommended.

 

Instead, it's better to use an oil-free moisturizer or a prescription antibiotic lotion or gel.

Makeup and acne

In some cases, makeup can be very good at covering up acne breakouts , but sometimes it can accentuate acne if the wrong type of concealer is used or if it's applied too thickly.

 

The redness and flaking that many acne treatments leave behind can look even worse when covered with heavy makeup.

 

It is important that all make-up components , from make -up base to eye shadows, are fat-free, non-comedogenic, hypoallergenic and non-irritating. 

 

Mineral-based cosmetics contain added ingredients such as silica, titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, which absorb sebum and conceal redness without irritating the skin and leading to breakouts.

 

Another important ingredient is dimethicone, which also conceals redness while smoothing skin imperfections.

 

Sun protection

Contrary to popular belief,  sunscreen does not cause acne.

 

While red, sunburned skin can temporarily hide acne, burning the skin too often leads to lines and wrinkles and increases the risk of skin cancer. 

 

It is recommended to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor of at least 30 and a physical blocker such as zinc oxide of at least 6% to protect the skin from both UVA and UVB light.

 

A water-based sunscreen or a light liquid gel or spray is best for acne-prone skin .

 

It is important to be careful about the content of chemicals such as PABA and benzophenone, which can irritate sensitive skin .

 

References:

https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/acne/acne-skin-care-makeup