Treating Acne Without Drugs – Understanding Proper Cleansing and Treatment
Posted in Health & Fitness on October 28th, 2009 by admin – Be the first to comment
Author: Nicole Wipp
Source: ezinearticles.com
In treating acne without drugs, or outside of a doctor’s office, there are three main factors that must be considered: enclosure, sebum (oil), and bacteria. I often find that people trying to rid themselves of acne focus heavily on one or two of the factors, instead of all three. Yet, for those with persistent acne, failure to address all three factors ultimately means failure to correct the problem.
What does this mean? For most people, its fairly simple: you must cleanse and treat.
You’re probably thinking, “yeah, duh, of course.” The fact is, cleansing is not so simple as some think. I often have people say, “I wash my face three times a day! My face is clean!” Unfortunately, cleansing this much or this often causes more harm than good. Over-washing and/or washing with abrasive or harsh chemicals leads to skin irritation, making the perfect environment for bacteria to enter into the skin, mingle with the oil, and produce more acne.
Also, most cleansers do not address the issue of enclosure, where the dead skin cells impact together, trapping bacteria and oil inside. Many people are hesitant to use a facial moisturizer, with the fear that their skin will become more oily and more prone to breakouts. Again, this results in over-irritation to the face, especially when harsh treatment products are being used.
The real issue, then, is cleansing and treating in the right way with the right products. Using a cleanser that contains either alpha-hydroxy acids or, if you would like something more gentle, fruit enzymes, to remove dead skin cells and enter into the pore to rid it of bacteria without over-drying is the paramount first step. Masking to pull impurities, then moisturizing, are next, with products that will reinforce a matte, luminous, and more uniform appearance while healing the skin.
For most people, this means avoiding many over the counter and even prescription products that are so harsh that they actually inflame skin further. Think about it: acne is already an inflammation of the skin, the last thing you want to do is make it worse!
Ultimately, the point for those with persistent acne is to ensure that the skin is clean, but also that products are use which soothe instead of inflame. This small change can make a big difference!
Nicole Wipp is the owner of The Source Skincare, a specialty skincare boutique focusing on pharmaceutical-grade and organic skin care products. Contact Nicole through her website, or call (947)570-1496.