Your Skin Care Process When You Have Acne

Caring for acne-prone skin is about more than just slathering on blemish-busting products.

It can involve lifestyle changes, too — the first of which is often a new and improved skin care routine.

It Depends on The Type of Acne

Noninflammatory

Noninflammatory acne refers to clogged pores that appear as blackheads or whiteheads.

It’s the mildest type and is easy to spot. Blackheads have a dark appearance and can appear somewhat flat against the skin. Whiteheads are small skin-colored bumps.

Inflammatory

Anything with a red or more robust appearance is essentially classified as inflammatory acne.

This can range from papules and pustules to the more severe nodules and cysts.

Papules are small red bumps, while pustules are small bumps that contain pus. Papules often turn into pustules.

Then there’s the deeper, more painful acne.

These inflamed bumps are typically larger than your usual pimple and feel as if they’re underneath the skin.

It Also Depends on Your Skin Type

It’s common to link oily skin to acne. After all, excess oil is a known contributorTrusted Source to breakouts.

But dry skin types can still experience acne for a number of reasons, whether it’s due to environmental factors or a poor skin care routine that irritates the skin and clogs pores.

If it’s shiny, you have oily skin. If it appears flaky, rough, or red, you have dry skin.

Combination skin will appear dry on the cheeks and shiny on the forehead, nose, and chin.

Normal  skin, meanwhile, will have a healthy glow with no visible issues.

Care Process

Wash Twice a Day and After Sweating

Washing your face when you wake up and before you go to bed is recommended.

Doing it more than twice a day, unless you’re particularly sweaty, can irritate the skin.

Routinely Wash Anything That Comes Into Contact With Your Skin

Bedding, makeup brushes, and even phone screens can all harbor debris that can clog your pores.

To avoid clogging your pores, the American Academy of Dermatology advises changing sheets weekly and pillowcases two or three times a week.

Ideally, you should clean makeup tools every day. But if that’s not feasible, try washing them once a week instead.

Phones can be wiped with a special cleanser once or twice a day.

Opt for Noncomedogenic Products

Noncomedogenic is a label you’ve probably seen quite a lot on skin care products.

Sometimes it goes by the name of oil-free, non-acnegenic, or simply “won’t clog pores.” Every product used on acne-prone areas should have the labels “oil-free, noncomedogenic.”

You’d think any products labeled with this would only help acne-prone skin, right? Unfortunately not.

It’s best to check the full ingredients list before using. Avoid anything that contains potential irritants, like alcohol or fragrance.

Stay Hydrated

Keeping skin hydrated may help combat the excess oil that leads to acne. However, there’s limited research to back this up.

Begin With A Cleanser
 

The first step is to use a mild cleanser that will purify your skin to deal with your skin acne. It would help if you used the cleanser two times a day. There is no need to use a specific acne-related soap or cleanser. A regular cleaner will serve the best for getting rid of bacteria and dirt from the skin.

Also, be gentle while massaging your skin. The harsh movement may lead to an increase in acne.

Use A Moisturizer

After using toner, use a moisturizer to hydrate your skin. It will prevent the peeling process and will lead to smooth skin. Also, be sure to use a light moisturizer at the beginning and the end of the day. Furthermore, you don’t need to switch to a night cream. A moisturizer will be sufficient.