A Good Acne Cleanser Makes All the Difference

As a teen struggling with acne, you’re probably willing to do anything to get rid of it as quickly as possible. Perhaps acne is something of a blessing and a curse, as it certain serves to frustrate, but it offers a wonderful lesson in patience. There is no miracle cure for acne—there is no cure for acne, period; however, with a focused effort offered through consistency, acne can be managed and prevented with the use of a quality acne cleanser.

Importance of Proper Acne Cleanser Usage

One thing that you should be aware of is how to properly use an acne cleanser. Most people think that the more you wash and cleanse the better. Pursuing such a misconceived notion may wreak havoc on your skin texture, and also lead to additional acne outbreaks.

The Purpose of Acne Cleanser

A good acne cleanser will prepare the skin’s surface to regenerate efficiently. It will promote optimal health by removing dead skin cells and bacteria from the skin’s surface, while also cleansing the skin of excess sebum (skin oil) that collects throughout the day and overnight. As briefly mentioned, many people attempt to wash or cleanse their face with an acne cleanser multiple times daily—4 or more times. The problem with such a routine is that it’s harsh in nature, and will actually dry the skin out, cause the surface to shed before it’s ready, and force the sebaceous gland to produce more sebum, making the skin even oiler and more susceptible to acne.

What shopping around for an acne cleanser, look for a cleanser that is a mild with potent active ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide, or a combination of benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid. Such ingredients will aid in removing the “stickiness” from dead skin cells clinging to the surface of the skin, and benzoyl peroxide will also serve as an antibacterial agent, creating an oxidized environment when applied to the skin—an environment in which bacteria simply cannot survive. Some cleansers also possess mild exfoliants which also help to

How to Use an Acne Cleanser

Once you have purchased a quality acne cleanser, you’ll want to make it part of a daily regimen. It helps to set aside time in which you can make it a consistent routine. Generally using an acne cleanser in the morning before activities and in the evening before bed will help in the fight against acne without excessively drying out the skin.

When using an acne cleanser it doesn’t need to be harshly scrubbed onto the skin to be effective. A gentle, circular motion across all acne prone areas will suffice. It is worth mentioning–you’ll want to avoid the area of the eyes. The skin making up the eyelids is highly sensitive.

To supplement an acne cleanser, a quality toner or astringent can be used after cleansing to help constrict the pores. This will help keep the dead skin cells and bacteria from easily entering the pores and follicles, where they cause acne when combined with sebum. A once or twice-a-day application of an acne cream can also be used in conjunction with a cleanser. To combat dryness from certain ingredients, an oil-free moisturizer will help to offer balance to the skin texture.