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 Acne Face Care |
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Your skin is among your body's most conspicuous features. It helps protect you against the environment and plays a major role in your appearance. But your skin needs regular care and attention in order to remain healthy and attractive. Taking good care of your skin — including proper cleaning, moisturizing, use of sunscreen and shaving — can help prevent skin-related problems, such as dry or rough skin, deep wrinkles, liver or brown spots, and skin cancer.
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| You can avoid or control most acne with good basic skin care and the following self-care techniques: |
- Wash problem areas with a gentle cleanser. Products such as facial scrubs, astringents and masks generally aren't recommended because they tend to irritate skin, which can aggravate acne. Excessive washing and scrubbing also can irritate skin. If you tend to develop acne around your hairline, shampoo your hair frequently.
- Try over-the-counter acne lotion to dry excess oil and promote peeling. Look for products containing benzoyl peroxide, resorcinol or salicylic acid as the active ingredient.
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- Avoid irritants . You may want to avoid oily or greasy cosmetics, sunscreens, hair-styling products or acne concealers. Use products labeled "water-based" or "noncomedogenic." If the sun worsens your acne, protect yourself from sunlight — which is a good idea in general. If stress causes outbreaks, work on reducing your stress level.
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- Watch what touches your face. Keep your hair clean and off your face. Also avoid resting your hands or objects such as telephone receivers on your face. Tight clothing or hats also can pose a problem, especially if you'll be sweating. Sweat, dirt and oils can contribute to acne.
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- Don't pick or squeeze blemishes. Picking or squeezing can cause infection or scarring. Most acne will clear up without this kind of intervention. If you need aggressive treatment, see your doctor or dermatologist.
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| Cleaning your face: Be gentle |
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Cleaning is an essential part of caring for your complexion. Whatever your skin type — oily, dry, balanced or combination — the key to cleaning is to treat your skin gently.
When washing your face: |
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- Remove eye makeup . Use a soft sponge, cotton cloth or cotton balls and moisturizing cream to avoid damaging the delicate tissue around your eyes. If you wear heavy, waterproof makeup, you also may need to use an oil-based product such as petroleum jelly.
- Use lukewarm water . Avoid washing your face with very hot water, which can dry out your skin.
- Avoid strong soaps. Strong soaps — those most capable of stripping oil from your skin — can leave your skin dry. These products don't contain additives such as moisturizers or moisture retainers. Products containing lauryl sulfates are harsher than products containing sarcosinates, sulfosuccinates and cocoamphodiacetates. A mild cleanser, typically labeled as such, may also be a good choice.
- Avoid irritating additives. If you have sensitive skin, avoid products containing perfumes or dyes. These can irritate your skin and may possibly trigger an allergic response.
- Use your hands to wash your face . Instead of using a washcloth, which can be abrasive , wash your face gently using your fingers.
- Rinse thoroughly and pat dry. Use a soft cotton towel to dry your face.
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Generally, wash your face once in the morning, once in the evening and after exercising or engaging in sports. If your skin is very dry and easily irritated, washing once a day may be enough to remove sweat and oil from your skin. If your skin is oily or prone to blackheads or acne — and you live in a warm and humid environment — you may need to wash it more frequently than twice a day. Otherwise, twice a day may be enough, especially if you use soaps or other cleansers designed for oily skin. These products strip more oil away from the skin and aren't as likely to contain oil or moisturizers.
You may also consider using a toner or astringent after washing your face. These products, which remove oil and soap residue, help make your skin feel tight and clean. They're generally drying and may contain water, alcohol or witch hazel, propylene glycol or salicylic acid. Some people find them to be too drying and irritating. Others find that they work well in removing excess oil. |
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Courtesy of the Mayo Clinic. |
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Proper Face Washing
Sun & Your Skin
Diet & Acne
Controlling Acne |
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