Simple Acne Care

Acne and acne care is often considered to be one of the more unpleasant aspects of going through the teenage years, but there is plenty of advice out there on how to deal with the problem, in magazines for instance. But of course acne and blemishes can affect adults too, and can be even more difficult to treat. 

In adolescence, acne is often caused by clogged pores, which arise as a result of hormones causing oily skin. This is a less likely cause in adults, who tend to have normal, dry or combination skin, making acne care more problematic as many products are aimed at teenage skin.

Acne can also be caused by the skin becoming irritated, sometimes from shaving, or sometimes from tight clothing, especially if it’s man-made material. A major factor is hormone activity, which explains why acne and blemishes are so common in teenagers. But hormones can get out of control in adults too, such as during a woman’s monthly cycle. And, while the popular image of pregnancy is of a woman “blooming” with health, often the reality is that many expectant mothers find themselves subject to outbreaks and having to think about acne care.

Despite the fact that acne causes can be varied, and affect adolescents and adults equally, there are some guidelines for acne skincare which cover both ages.

It’s important, as part of acne care, to be gentle with your skin. When cleansing use a mild soap and avoid the use of anything astringent, which can make already inflamed and irritated skin even more painful.

Ensure that anything with the potential to affect the skin is dealt with. This might include regularly washing your hair if it’s oily, again using a gentle product. You might consider keeping it back off your face as well. Take care when shaving to avoid possible irritation. If using makeup, stick to non-oily formulations and don’t overdo the application. Too much makeup may clog the pores even more or hold back the process of healing, so use a light touch.  If make cosmetics part of your acne skincare routine, use special acne makeup which is medicated.

A very important part of acne care is not to squeeze or pick at pimples, tempting though it may be. This frequently leads to the infection spreading, and can leave you with scarring.

Some people prefer to seek help from a dermatologist for more advanced acne care and treatment. A skin care expert may give you treatment which includes using topical creams or taking medication to help clear the outbreaks.  However you choose to proceed, it’s worth adopting good acne care habits  to help reduce the risk of further outbreaks, and to help promote healthy skin.