How to Develop the Best Acne Skin Care Routine
When you are prone to breakouts, a proper acne skin care regimen is important. Following are some ways that your everyday routine might benefit your skin:
- Remove extra oil.
- Keep the pores open.
- Boost the speed of blemish healing.
It might be difficult to develop a skin care regimen for acne since there are so many products available and there is so much contradictory advice online.
However, a simple daily skin care regimen can still effectively treat acne.
Just a few minutes twice a day will be enough. Most of the time, you’ll already have everything you need. You don’t need to buy expensive things; you may get what you need from the pharmacy.
Here is a brief overview of what you should and shouldn’t do while creating a skincare routine to treat acne.
Best Acne Skin Care Routine
Cleanse properly but gently
Wash your face well with a soft washcloth or just your fingertips. Wash your neck, jawline, and the area in front of and behind your ears. You don’t need to scrub vigorously or with abrasive pads; doing so won’t make your skin cleaner.
Make sure you’re cleansing your skin with the appropriate product. Whether you use prescription acne treatment may affect the type of cleanser you select.
For example:
OTC wash
If you have minor breakouts, an over-the-counter (OTC) acne treatment wash is a suitable option. Select a product that either includes salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide.
Non-medicated cleansers
If you’re presently on prescription acne drugs, you should switch to a mild, non-medicated cleanser.
Dove unscented, Cetaphil, or the classic amber Neutrogena bar are all fantastic options.
You should do a double wash at night if you use makeup or if your skin gets sweaty during the day: cleanse, then thoroughly rinse. Every night, you will wash off all traces of grime, perspiration, and makeup thanks to this additional cleansing.
Tip
Avoid washing your face with harsh bar soap or antibacterial hand soaps. While irritating your skin, harsh soaps won’t get rid of your acne.
Use an astringent or toner.
This step is not required. Astringents or toners can aid in the following ways, depending on the chemicals they contain:
- Remove extra oil.
- Tone.
- Hydrate.
- Help eliminate pimples and blackheads.
Tips for Using astringent
Use a cotton ball or pad to apply toner, then gently wipe your face and neck with it. This will assist in removing any remaining oil, cleanser residue, and makeup.
Keep in mind the following since astringents might be drying:
Astringents are helpful for skin types with abundant oil since they draw it out of the skin. A moisturizing toner is a better option for you if your skin is prone to dryness, either naturally or as a result of utilizing drying acne treatments.
The alcohol level of a product should also be taken into consideration because it can be drying and irritating, especially for skin types with sensitivity.
If acne treatments have dried out or inflamed your skin, go for alcohol-free cosmetics. Be mindful that even if your skin isn’t very dry or sensitive, alcohol-based toners might hurt open pimples.
Be using medication for acne
Apply your acne treatment creams as instructed after your toner has completely dried or after washing and thoroughly drying your skin.
Before using a moisturizer, allow the prescription or over-the-counter gels or creams that you’re using completely absorb.
Need assistance selecting a drug to treat your acne? Call your dermatologist or another medical professional.
Be using a moisturizer
Although moisturizing skin that is already greasy may seem counterintuitive, do not miss this important step.
Skin that has been treated for acne may become dry and desirous of moisture. Apply a mild moisturizer twice a day to minimize dryness and peeling skin.
It’s not necessary for our moisturizer to make you feel oily and sticky. Many moisturizers for oily skin types are fully absorbed and won’t worsen acne.
Compared to creams, moisturizing gels and lotions are often lighter. Choose a product that is non-comedogenic and oil-free in any case. It won’t clog your pores because of this.
To discover a brand that you enjoy, you might have to try a few different ones.
Apply Sun Protection
Many acne medicines and exfoliating chemicals increase the risk of UV damage to your skin (called photosensitivity). Therefore, a smart acne skin care regimen includes making sure your face is protected from the sun.
SPF is a common ingredient in moisturizers, providing you with sun protection as you hydrate. If your moisturizer doesn’t have SPF, you might think about buying a different sunscreen product.
Instead of buying an all-over sunscreen, look for a face-specific product. For instance, face sunscreens usually contain less oil and don’t smell like sunscreen.
Summary
Cleanser, toner, acne medication, moisturizer, and sunblock are all essential components of an acne skin care regimen. You can just omit that step if the toner is too drying.
Use mild cleansers and other items if you’re using prescription acne meds. You may save time by using sunscreen-containing moisturizers.
Tips
For your acne skincare routine to work well, you don’t need to buy the priciest items available. The most important step is being consistent. While sometimes skipping a day won’t affect your skin permanently, the more regular you are, the greater benefits you will get.
Call your dermatologist if you need assistance controlling acne outbreaks or if you need advice on the finest skincare products for you.
