Your face can reveal a lot about what's going on inside your body. Providing yourself with the right knowledge and products can improve the severity of the acne which will lead to a soft and supple skin. Adult acne is a common condition between the age of 18 to 25 years faced by both males and females. The causes of acne are varied. Hormonal imbalance, thyroid, polycystic ovaries or even obesity are some of the important causes which leads to an increase in insulin growth factor, excess dairy consumption, change in skin microbiome or pH balance. There are over the counter ointments that have been found to be effective in managing acne. It is however, essential to consult a specialist and evaluate a treatment that will be best suited for your skin type.
Effective Ways To Remove Acne
Here are some tips on how to get rid of acne:
Skin Type
Acne occurs in all skin types and can coexist with other conditions such as dryness, eczema and skin sensitivity, rosacea, seborrheic dermatitis and sun damage. The clinician must recommend skin products with these possibilities in mind and ensure that cleansers do not injure or irritate the skin.
(Also read: How To Get Rid Of Pimples: 6 Overnight DIY Remedies To Try At Home)
Are you aware of your skin type?
Cleansing
For the acne patient, cleansing involves several considerations: the patient's perceptions of the cause and treatment of acne; matching skin type to the right type of cleanser; when and why to cleanse; and treating parts of the body other than the face.
All cleansers used for acne patients should be 'soap-free', 'acidic' or 'pH-balanced', free of abrasives or alcohols and with high rinsibility. Cleansers come in the form of highly foaming or very rinsible, light, liquid wash-off products (which are somewhat drying) or light, less rinsed-off lotions or creams (which are less drying).
Oil-control cleansers aim to prevent shine and reduce the 'skin greasing rate' and may use sebum absorptive and sebum spreading control. Patients with oily but otherwise robust skin should use a highly rinsible cleanser without a residual moisturiser.
In patients with other skin types, such as dry/combination, sensitive, rosacea-affected, older, sun-damaged or smoker's skin, non-comedogenic moisturising liquid cleanser is often recommended. This type of cleanser will remove debris, dead cells, grime, and facial products without over-drying the skin.
(Also read: How To Remove White Spots From Face: Causes, Steps To Follow)
Your moisturisers should be lightweight and include UV protection
Moisturising
Moisturisers are particularly recommended to acne patients who are older, those with dry/combination, sun-damaged or smoker's skin, or those with rosacea or seborrheic dermatitis. Recommended moisturisers for day should be lightweight and include UV protection, whereas those for night-time use can be heavier and should be applied particularly to sensitive areas such as around the eyes, neck and mouth area.
Skin Protection
Skin protection involves adequate moisturising and environmental protection. Moisturising prevents and lessens skin irritation.
Cosmetics
Cosmetics such as tinted creams and concealers applied prior to foundation should be oil free, non-comedogenic, and non-acnegenic. These can be difficultt o apply to scaly, irritated skin and should all be removed at night, as they may still exacerbate acne if left on too long. Light foundation is easier to spread, can be set with powder and is easier to remove than heavy foundations. Mineral makeups are also useful in acne patients, as are green-tinted makeup and sunscreen that can help disguise red blemish areas. Foundations with broad-spectrum sunscreen are commonly recommended.
For optimal outcomes in acne, patients need to be educated in familiar terms and encouraged to promote good lifelong skin care practices. One should be instructed to cleanse correctly, protect their skin to retain moisture, prevent environmental damage and opt for treatment if required. Addressing individual skincare needs of acne patients and ensuring the most beneficial cleansing, moisturising and skin protection regimen are crucial.
About the author: Dr Satish Bhatia is a dermatologist and skin surgeon on behalf of Cetaphil India.
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