Acne and Skin Care
Skin care is important at any time of life but especially if you are unlucky enough to have acne. One secret for keeping acne under control is quite simply proper skin care. This means actively working to keep the skin clean and protect it from sources of damage like sunshine and harsh cosmetics.
Cleaning the Skin
Using a gentle soap or specialized skin cleaner wash your face once or twice a day. It is very important that you are careful to not scrub the skin as this will further aggravate the acne. Use a soft cloth to moisten the face and then apply the cleanser to all areas from the hairline to the neck. Rinse the cleanser with plenty of water and then gently pat your face dry with a soft towel.
Those with especially oily skin may find it necessary to use an astringent, but these must be used with care. Only apply it to the parts of the face which are most oily and discontinue its use if your skin begins to become irritated. It is best to consult with a dermatologist first if you feel you need to use an astringent.
Hair care is also an important and integral part of skin care. Shampoo your hair two or three times a week and try to keep it off of your face as much as possible. Those with oily hair may need to wash their hair once a day or consider a shorter hair style.
Protect Your Skin from the Sun
A suntan can dry out the skin and make your acne less noticeable but this is only a temporary condition. As your skin becomes accustomed to repeated exposure to the sun, the acne will flare up once again, and in the meantime you are also risking skin damage that may cause it to age prematurely or even cause skin cancer. Caution; many medications used to treat acne cause the skin to become more sensitive to sunshine and more vulnerable to burning. It is always best to wear a sunscreen when outdoors, whether you have acne or not.
Choose Your Makeup with Care
The absolute best choice for good skin care is to wear no makeup at all, but if you feel you must wear makeup choose some that will not clog the pores. These products are labeled noncomedogenic, but they may still cause acne in some people. Above all, avoid makeup with an oil base. Read the labels carefully and use sparingly. There is more information on acne and makeup at InformationClickDepot.com/Acne/Acne_and_makeup.html.
Shaving
You may have to try both electric razors and safety razors to see which is more comfortable. Don't ever use safety razors with dull blades. Change the blade or razor after every two or three uses. You may have to shave around blemishes to avoid cutting them, and be sure to soften the hair as much as possible with water and shaving cream. If you happen to have a lot of breakouts perhaps it may be best to skip shaving that day.
Avoid Touching the Skin
No matter how tempting it may be to squeeze and pop those pimples, don't do it! If you are a "pimple popper" you are just inviting more trouble because the bacteria which causes pimples will possibly spread. Popping pimples can also lead to permanent scarring.
Try to avoid touching your face as much as possible. Many of us do this unconsciously, but the hands are often dirty and oily despite our regular attempts to clean them and can spread germs over greater areas of your skin.
The good news is that acne can be brought under control. There are medications which are a great help in clearing up the skin and combating the bacteria which causes acne, but you will have to help it along as much as possible by taking good care of your skin.
