If you have acne-prone skin or want to know more about maintain acne free skincare, one of the best acne treatments is to perfect a skincare routine.
First things first, what is acne? Acne is merely a medical term for spots, pimples, blackheads and whiteheads, and has no relationship to the severity of the breakout. It I caused because of excess sebum on the skin which moisturises and protects your skin.
Having an effective and consistent skincare routine can make the world of difference, so exactly what products should you look out for?
What ingredients should you look out for in your skincare routine?
It's important to know what ingredients to look out for when putting together an effective skincare routine for acne. There are several ingredients such as, salicylic acid, even zinc and niacinamide which are great places to start
What is an effective skincare routine for acne?
Broadly speaking the best skincare routine for acne is going to cleanse, treat, and hydrate. And while it can be tempting to throw every product with the phrase “acne fighting” at your skin, that’s not the best course of action.
Over washing or over scrubbing the skin can disrupt the skin barrier, leading to irritation and inflammation, which makes it more difficult to treat acne.
Cleansing with ingredients like salicylic acid will penetrate the pores and unclog oil, impurities, proteins and dead skin cells which all build up and block the pores. Salicylic acid also has anti-inflammatory properties which are brilliant for acne-prone skin as often there is a lot of redness and inflammation surrounding the breakouts. Make sure to avoid cleansers that leave the skin feeling tight, and don't over-cleanse the skin, as this could lead to excess oil production.
It's important to note that you shouldn't exfoliate the skin every single day, in fact, try using the product on alternate day at first to see how your skin reacts. Rugged scrubs and exfoliants can knock off the top of spots, spreading bacteria and causing irritation and inflammation.
Instead, have a home facial steam (hot water in the sink and a towel over the head is fine) use gentle exfoliation which works for both face and body, an antibacterial face mask and light moisturiser or oil.
It's important to remember that acne takes time to improve, so make sure you are consistent with your skincare routine.
