Acne and Skin Care

Although correct skin care practices play only a minor role in whether or not an individual gets acne, they are vital when it comes to treating it.

It is often thought that giving your skin a good scrubbing will help to prevent acne but, in fact, washing has little if any effect on whether or not you develop acne. It can however have a significant effect once you have developed acne.

This said, particularly harsh scrubbing can expose the lower layers of the skin making them susceptible to attack by airborne and contact bacteria.

The best course of action is to wash your face thoroughly, but gently, morning and evening using a mild cleanser. Also, because acne can occur on the neck, shoulders, back and chest these areas should also be washed with care in the shower. Mild cleaning from below the jaw line up to the hairline in the middle of the day and perhaps early evening can also be helpful.

Natural skin oil (known as sebum) plays a role in the development of acne, but removing all traces of it is not as a good idea as sebum helps to keep your skin flexible and stops micro cracks (which can serve as a pathway for bacteria) from forming. Sebum also stops the skin from getting too dry, which can again result in small cracks appearing in the outer layers. For this reason, astringents that remove oil should be used sparingly and you should look to over-the-counter acne products which are formulated to achieve the correct balance.

For men, shaving presents a challenge although electric razors can help to solve the problem. Even so, electric shavers can nick the skin, particularly when it contains blemishes, and so should be used with slow and careful movements. You will also find that a pre-shave softener can help. Men can also use of a manual or safety razor but you should not shave against the direction of hair growth and should soften your beard before shaving with warm water and soap.

For women, makeup selection is a lot simpler these days and there are many formulations that specifically designed to cope with acne. Go easy on the foundation and make subtle use of such things as cheek blush. Also, look for makeup labeled 'non-comedogenic', which means that it is specifically formulated for the most common types of mild acne including both blackheads and whiteheads.

Over-the-counter antibacterial products can also help prevent acne, but is more helpful if used after acne has developed. You should however follow the directions and do not over medicate as this can result in clogged pores and damaged skin, which are precisely the conditions which promote acne.

The key to good skin care and minimizing the outbreaks of acne is to keep your pores open to allow for the natural movement of skin oil and the shedding dead skin cells.

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