Acne Treatment Depends On Skin Type

There are two things you need to take into account to get the most out of your acne treatment: skin type and condition. Human skin comes in 5 basic types: normal, dry, oily, combination (oily and dry), and sensitive. Acne-prone skin is usually oily, while sensitive skin is normally dry.

Acne conditions go from mild to severe. Mild and moderate acne may be taken care of at home, but pimples that are deep and very painful suggesting acute tissue inflammation and infection need the attention of a specialist right away. Self-treating such condition often leads to skin damage and permanent scarring.

An acne treatment is effective if it is ongoing and given time to work fully, so a good amount of persistence is required. It takes from 2 to 4 weeks to see any reduction in the number and size of your zits. Remember that an acne medication that does wonders on one person might be of no help to somebody else. Acne products are available in different active ingredients and strengths (concentration) for you to experiment with until you find the most suitable one for your condition.

Normal skin: this really is the type of skin we all would love to have. It is neither too dry or too oily. If you are suffering from mild acne, try pore strips and facial or peel-off masks once weekly to get rid of hardened oil from pores as an alternative to using daily astringents. Strips and masks are most effective after a facial steam which softens and loosen the sebum.

In cases of moderate acne use medications for normal to oily skin only, but do not apply more than once each day in order to maintain the delicate balance of moisture and essential oils. Altering such balance may result in dry patches and flakiness where there was none before

Dry skin: the challenge with acne on dry skin is keeping the skin clean without removing vital natural oils in the process. You can still wash your face twice per day with a mild cleanser, but if the skin becomes overly dry, use the cleanser at nighttime only.

Apply plenty of moisturizer, at least twice each day and sooner right following cleansing while the surface of the skin remains damp. Reapply moisturizer whenever your skin starts to feel tight.

Facial scrubs containing either glycolic or lactic acid are suggested. Concentrate the application of acne medication to only those areas suffering from pimples to reduce the risk of over drying patches of skin. .

Oily skin: oily skin requires washing twice or three times a day to hold sebum from accumulating. But be careful never to over do it. Cleansing more often can over-dry the face, produce flakiness and make oil glands even let loose more oil to compensate. Try water based acne products containing either benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. Steer clear of any products containing coconut oil, cocoa butter, or cinnamon.

Exfoliate your skin a couple of times weekly but without over scrubbing. Pimples on oily skin call for the continuous use of medicines, pads and peel-off or facial masks to keep pores free from excessive oil and dirt build up.

Combination skin: this type is somewhat tricky. Typically, the cheeks are dry or normal, while the nose, forehead, and chin tend to be oily. This demands using a mild cleanser to wash the face two times each day, and the application of a water based moisturizer.

As far as acne medications go, use a spot treatment applied only to places where acne is present. Medicated pads are most handy in this case. In case you are experiencing no pimples, just blackheads or whiteheads across the so called T-zone (area that extends from the forehead down to the nose and chin) the use of pore strips will aim at these areas effectively.

Sensitive skin: sensitive skin is usually dry. Search for acne products free of alcohol, fragrances, or acids. Instead, look for products containing all plant based ingredients like chamomile, aloe, green tea, or tea tree oil. Apply a cream-based moisturizer in the morning and night daily to make sure no irritation occurs from the use of cleansers or topical medications.

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