Keep Your Acne from Taking Over Your Life!

Acne frustrates millions of people each year, without regard to class, age, ethnicity, or gender. Many people feel overwhelmed by the insane amounts of anti-acne products available. Have no fear -- Jules is here to help you clear your skin!

First of all, what is acne? Acne is the result of a pore that is filled with sebum (what we call oil), dead skin cells, and a specific strain of bacteria called Propionibacterium acnes. Some people are more prone to acne breakouts than others (lucky dogs). Also, acne can be sporadic, or it can be constant. Acne can also be anywhere from extremely mild to extreme.

Before I discuss how to keep acne at bay, please understand this -- if you have acne in just a few places (what is often called "combination skin") you don't need to treat your entire face or body as if it all has acne. Just treat the areas that get acne. I only get acne on my forehead. I don't put a lot of extra products on my cheeks because they don't break out that often. Applying products where they are not needed wastes time and money. It can also dry out skin that is otherwise healthy.

Now, on to the plan!

Change your soap!

First, do not wash with bar soap anywhere you are prone to getting acne! The binders that make bar soap solid can clog pores, adding to your acne problems. If your acne is isolated to your face, then it's OK to use bar soap on the rest of your body. But if you get acne on your arms, chest, back, buttocks, or legs do not use bar soap on these areas. This includes clear bar soap, and bar soaps that claim they aren't really soap!

Second, find a facial wash that isn't greasy. Cold cream and lotion-based cleansers are usually too greasy for acne, and will contribute to clogged pores. A good test to know if your facial cleanser is too greasy is to see if it can be removed by just splashing water on your face. If your face feels as if it has a film on it after rinsing with water only, your cleanser is too greasy. I prefer foaming cleansers for the best results.

Finally, your soap shouldn't sting. Irritating soaps may make your skin look redder, and while this won't make your acne worse it will make it look worse.

Toner

Toner should also not irritate your face. Don't use a toner that is primarily alcohol, menthol, or witch hazel. All of these ingredients will irritate your skin, making acne look worse. This includes medicated acne pads! If it makes your face sting, it's going to make the acne redder. No one wants this!

Exfoliate

Most people with acne understand that exfoliation helps remove the buildup of skin cells and oil in the pores. Simultaneously, most people who suffer from acne try to exfoliate with a scrub. Scrubs are not able to penetrate into pores without causing major damage and irritation to existing pimples. Don't use a scrub (including the popular apricot scrub) on acne-prone areas -- it's not going to fix anything.

Instead, use a 1-2% betahydroxy acid (BHA). Because BHAs are fat soluble, daily use of a BHA will keep the inside of pores exfoliated, preventing break outs before the acne can grow. I recommend using a BHA every day, or every other day, depending on how sensitive and dry it can make your skin. For more information on BHA's, see my article "Exfoliation Nation!"

Medicate

To kill the acne, you can use a number of topical treatments. The most common is Benzoyl Peroxide. Benzoyl Peroxide kills the bacteria that causes acne.

You can get Benzoyl Peroxide in several different strengths. I recommend starting with a 5% concentration. Apply a thin layer of Benzoyl Peroxide over any acne prone areas once a day (or once every other day, if this makes your skin dry out). Never apply a BHA and Benzoyl Peroxide at the same time -- it is too drying for your skin.

Some people have success using hydrogen peroxide instead of Benzoyl Peroxide. Don't do it! Hydrogen peroxide will kill the bacteria, but it will also damage your skin permanently, because hydrogen peroxide breaks down into free radicals.

Finally, you can use tea tree oil instead of Benzoyl Peroxide. Make sure that it is at least a 2% concentration, and that it doesn't contain any other ingredients (i.e. menthol or fragrance). Do not use tea tree oil while using Benzoyl Peroxide.

Oh, Benzoyl Peroxide will bleach hair and fabric, so be careful applying it around clothing and hair.

Lotions

If your skin is extremely oily and prone to acne, you may not need lotion. Sebum is the body's natural lotion, so unless all this acne treatment is drying you out, leave well enough alone.

Some people are unfortunate enough to have acne AND dry skin. If this is the case, try to find a lotion that is more gel like instead of cream like. You want the kind of lotion that pours out of a bottle, not the kind that is in a jar. Check the label and make sure the lotion is "non-comedogenic" -- this means it won't clog your pores.

Make Up

In this article I will not discuss how to cover acne with makeup. Instead, I am just going to touch on the types of make up to use.

Avoid any overly greasy makeup. Just like lotions and face wash, greasy makeup will clog pores and add to the acne problem. Make sure the label of your foundation also reads "non-comedogenic". Otherwise, it will just add to the problem.

When all else fails

If you have tried the above steps for at least a week, and you are not noticing any improvement, go see a dermatologist.

If you only get acne around your hairline, you may just be having a reaction to a styling product that you use on your hair. Use an unscented shampoo for a week and discontinue use of all styling products. If the "acne" goes away, you've solved your problem.

Dermatologists can do many things for those who suffer from acne. They can prescribe topical creams that one cannot buy at a drugstore or chemist, such as differin. They can also prescribe oral medications like birth control pills (females only), Accutaine, or antibiotics.

I hope my article helps you. Acne is horrible when left unchecked! Good luck, and let me know if this works for you.