subject: Acne treatment varies according to your skin type [print this page] An effective acne treatment must take into account a person's skin type. There are 5 basic types of skin: oily, normal, dry, combination (oily and dry), and sensitive. Acne-prone skin is frequently oily, while sensitive skin is normally dry.
Besides skin type, one should also consider the severity of your acne. Be aware that mild and moderate acne may be treated at home, but pimples that are big, deep, and very painful, which implies acute tissue inflammation and infection need the attention of a specialist right away. Self-treating such condition can lead to skin damage and permanent scarring.
An acne treatment is merely effective if it is ongoing and given time to work fully, so plenty of persistence is necessary. It takes from 2 to 4 weeks to see any reduction in the amount and size of your zits. Bear in mind that an acne medication working miracles on one individual may be of no help to somebody else. Acne products are available in a variety of active ingredients and strengths (concentration) for you to experiment with until you discover the right one for your condition.
Normal skin: this is the type of skin all of us would love to have. It is neither too dry or too oily. Should you be experiencing mild acne, try pore strips and facial or peel-off masks once weekly to get rid of hardened oil from pores as an alternative to using daily astringents. Strips and masks are most effective following a facial steam which softens and loosen the sebum.
In cases of moderate acne use medications for normal to oily skin only, but don't apply in excess of once each day in order to maintain the fragile balance of moisture and essential oils. Changing such balance may result in dry patches and flakiness where there was none previous.
Dry skin: the challenge with acne on dry skin is keeping the skin clean without removing vital natural oils during the process. You can still wash your face twice a day with a gentle cleanser, but if the skin becomes overly dry, use the cleanser at night only, a just water in the morning.
Apply ample moisturizer, no less than twice a day and preferably right following cleansing while the surface of the skin is still damp. Reapply moisturizer whenever your skin starts to feel tight during the day.
Facial scrubs containing either glycolic or lactic acid are recommended. Concentrate the applying of acne medication to only those locations affected by pimples to scale back the chance of over drying patches of skin. .
Oily skin: oily skin requires washing twice or three times a day to hold sebum from accumulating. But be cautious not to over do it. Washing more often can over-dry the face, produce flakiness and make oil glands even discharge more oil to compensate. Try water based acne products containing either benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. Stay away from any products containing coconut oil, cocoa butter, or cinnamon.
Exfoliate your skin once or twice weekly but without over scrubbing. Pimples on oily skin require the constant use of medicines, pads and peel-off or facial masks to keep pores free from excessive oil and dirt build up.
Combination skin: this type is a little tricky. Typically, the cheeks are dry or normal, while the nose, forehead, and chin are typically oily. This entails the use of a mild cleanser to wash the face two times a day, and the application of a water based moisturizer.
As far as acne medications go, use a spot treatment applied just to regions where acne is present. Medicated pads are most handy in such a case. If you are experiencing no pimples, just blackheads or whiteheads around the so called T-zone (area that extends from the forehead down to the nose and chin) using pore strips will aim at these areas effectively.
Sensitive skin: sensitive skin is tends to be dry. Cleaning your face more than once daily is not necessary. Acne products containing alcohol, fragrances, or acids should be avoided. Instead, seek out herbal products with ingredients like chamomile, aloe, green tea, or tea tree oil. Use plenty moisturizer every day to prevent irritation.
