Skin Care Information

To get rid of acne, you have to understand what causes it in the first place. All in all, the formation of acne pimples a pretty complicated process that even scientists and dermatologists don’t fully understand. What is known though, can be summed up in a fairly simple manner - Acne bacteria (p. acnes) get trapped inside a pore (hair follicle). The bacteria then feed upon the sebum (oil) trapped inside the pore, and multiply, causing an infection. The body spots this infection, and tries to protect itself from it, leading to inflammation, which makes for a huge, red, inflamed “spot”.

Using this basic information, we can come up with three to-the-point ways to combat acne.

1.) Kill the bacteria. If there’s no bacteria to cause an infection, then there will be no acne.

2.) Reduce the oil on the surface of the skin. Since oil can clog pores, and gives “fuel” for the bacteria to thrive off of, less oil means less acne.

3.) Stop the pore from getting clogged in the first place. If you can keep dead skin cells from clogging up a pore, you’ll reduce the number of spots.

With that said, we’ll move on to the basic regimen.

Step 1 - Washing your Face

In this step, we will be trying to accomplish two goals - Removing excess oil from the surface of the skin, and killing the bacteria on the skin.

To do this, we will need a gentle, non-comedogenic, non-irritating antibacterial cleanser. These are few and far between, and I have only found one cleanser that can do the job: Noxzema “Triple Clean” Cleanser. This is a gentle cleanser that contains an antibacterial ingredient called “triclosan”.

First of all, splash your face once or twice with warm water. Then, squeeze about a dime sized amount of the cleanser into your hands. Work into a rich lather, and then apply to the face, being extra careful to be gentle. There is no need to scrub or rub it hard, as this will NOT help with acne, it will only make it worse. With that said, very gently, using no pressure at all, and only the tips of your fingers, rub it onto your skin for one minute straight. This is to make sure that all of the bacteria are killed off. Then rinse the cleanser from your face, and gently pat the skin dry with a clean towel.

Step 2 - Benzoyl Peroxide

Benzoyl Peroxide is a very common over-the-counter acne treatment product. BP works by creating an oxygen rich environment within the skin, interrupting the metabolic process of the p. acnes bacteria, causing it to die off. It is also antiinflammatory, helping to reduce redness.

Avoid anything that is 10% BP, unless it won’t be staying on your skin for long. Go for 5%, or better yet, 2.5%. The two products I recommend are Neutrogena’s “on-the-spot” acne treatment cream, and Stridex’s BP pads. Both contain 2.5% benzoyl peroxide.

No matter which product you choose, apply it gently to your skin after cleansing.

Step 3 - Salicylic Acid

Salicylic Acid is a beta hydroxy acid - meaning it is an exfoliant, and will help your skin to shed dead skin cells faster. This prevents the dead skin cells from forming a clog inside pores, trapping bacteria and leading to a pimple.

The salicylic acid product I recommend is Clean & Clear’s “advantage” acne spot treatment. It is a sort of gel, that contains 2% salicylic acid. It goes on smooth, is invisible once it has dried, and stays on all day to provide protection against acne.

After the benzoyl peroxide has dried, gently apply the salicylic acid. I use about a quarter sized amount for my face, but if your skin isn’t “used to it” yet, start with less.

And that’s it! You’re now protecting your skin from three major causes of acne, and hopefully your skin will begin to clear up!

This regimen is meant to be done twice per day - once in the morning, and again at night. Since both benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid are irritating to the skin at first, don’t jump right in. Your skin has to get used to the products before you can use them to their fullest extent. Be patient, and at first, only apply benzoyl peroxide, and only apply it once per day. Then work up to twice per day. Once your skin is used to that, add in the salicylic acid slowly. Eventually, you should be using quite a bit of both products. Definitely remember to wear a sunscreen if you’ll be venturing out into the sun.

Ryan Bauer is a former acne sufferer from Springfield, MO. He runs an acne information website called Acne Elimination.

Tags: acne, benzoyl, clear skin, pantothenic, pimples, ryan bauer, salicylic, skin, zitsacne, benzoyl, clear skin, pantothenic, pimples, ryan bauer, salicylic, skin, zits

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Salicylic acid is a term that has been around for many years in the skin care industry, and if you happen to be new to buying skincare products that contain this treatment medicine, then it’s a good idea to know what it is, and how it helps in aiding in your skin’s health.

Like any product on the market today, it’s always best to be educated on what you’re using, and obtain as much information on how to prevent any future skin reactions or problems.

Normally the products with salicylic ingredients that are sold over the counter in retail stores are safe, but it becomes un-safe when individuals use these items with a combination of other chemicals that may react together and cause skin irritation.

This is why it’s so important to read the bottles instructions and make sure that if there is anything on that container that you don’t understand, you should contact a medical doctor to get more facts. This would definitely apply when you notice your first symptoms of acne breakouts, or excess blackheads and whiteheads, and you want to find out what is best for your condition!

Health Benefits Of Beta Hydroxy Acids, Also Know As Salicylic Acids

If you’re reading labels and you notice beta hydroxy acid and Salicylic acid in the same context, it’s because they are one of the same. We won’t get into the technical explanation of the ingredients; all you need to know is this medicine is derived and naturally occurs in select plant species.

The benefit of this acidic component is that it easily penetrates deep into your hairs follicle opening, and helps un-plug the build-up of your skins natural production of oil. It is medically proven to help decrease inflammation of newly formed blemishes, whiteheads, and also your stubborn blackheads!

In plain English, Beta-Hydroxy (Salicylic Acid) gets deep into the skins pores and exfoliates your dead skin cells, and this helps clear out the trapped oil to prevent bacteria from feasting on this excess skin and oil, which eventually develops into your red irritated infections.

When Using Acidic Topical Solutions, You Should Be Aware Of The Many Cautions!

As mentioned earlier, you must be knowledgeable about the chemicals that you’re using! The reason this is so important is that you may not notice at first what level of Salicylic Acid concentration is safe to use on your particular condition. If you happen to obtain a higher percentage of solution than the average over-the-counter brands, then you may risk severe irritation and burning of your skin if not used properly.

Other precautions you should take when using this medicine, is try to avoid using at the same time a combination of alcohol based cleansers, and other medicinal solutions such as benzoyl peroxide, and soaps that easily dry your face and contains ingredients that exfoliates as well.

If you have been diagnosed with Rosacea, it’s extremely important to consult your Dermatologist, because this product may have reverse effects on treating this select skin disease, and may cause more damage than good! However, if you’re diagnosed with regular to severe acne, and not Rosacea, used properly, this beneficial medication can aid in breaking down dead skin-cells, blackheads, and whiteheads, and help you achieve a softer looking and clearer face.

Remember to educate yourself on the Acid concentrations of the products you purchase, and also find out what you can and cannot use in combination in your blemish fighting efforts, and in the long-term treatment process you will eventually get on the right path to an acne free life!

About the author: William is the owner and the author of “1st In Acne Skin Care Products” available at http://www.1st-in-acne-skin-care-products.com A great source for Acne Treatments! Find articles and information on acne treatment, and a number of select online skincare companies offering adult acne products, facial cleansers, and blackhead removal items, all in one convenient location.

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