Safe Soaps and Cleansers for Acne

What's the big deal about washing your face? You slather on some soap, splash your skin with water, pat dry, and you're on your way.
For people with problem acne, however, skin care involves a little extra time and effort.
If you have acne, choosing the right cleanser can help rid your skin of the bacteria that make their way into clogged hair follicles and lead to breakouts. A thorough cleaning also removes dead cells on the surface of your skin, which makes it easier for your acne medication to be absorbed.
To help control acne breakouts, look for a cleanser that is strong enough to remove dirt and keep your skin clean. Avoid harsh face soaps that can strip your skin of its natural oils. Harsh cleansers and scrubbing will only leave you with red, irritated skin that can promote flare-ups of your existing acne.
You can ask your dermatologist to recommend a prescription or over-the-counter cleanser that works on acne-prone skin, but also pay careful attention to your daily acne skin care routine. Here are a few tips on choosing skin care products, and cleaning your skin to keep it looking its best.

 

Which Cleansers Should I Use?

You can buy an inexpensive over-the-counter cleanser at your local supermarket or drug store. Or, if you're willing to spend a little more, you can splurge on one of the high-end cleansers that are sold at your dermatologists' office. It's not how much you spend that's important, but how well the product works.

Some brands of face soap have a very alkaline pH, which can be irritating and drying on your skin. When shopping for cleansers that work well on acne-prone skin, here's what to look for:

• Choose a gentle, nonabrasive, and alcohol-free cleanser.  
• Ask your dermatologist to help you find an acne cleanser that is appropriate for your acne treatment program. Look for an acne cleanser that matches your skin type -- oily, dry, or a combination of the two.
• Some acne cleansers and face soaps have added ingredients to fight acne and improve the skin's appearance. Medicated cleansers contain acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid, sodium sulfacetamide, or benzoyl peroxide, which can help clear up your skin while cleaning it. Salicylic acid helps clear blocked pores and reduces swelling and redness. Benzoyl peroxide exfoliates the skin and kills bacteria. Sodium sulfacetamide interferes with the growth of bacteria.
• To keep your skin hydrated, look for cleansers that contain emollients (petrolatum, lanolin, mineral oil and ceramides) or humectants (glycerin), which hold moisture in your skin, or exfoliants (alphahydroxy acids) to smooth rough areas.

Other skin care products you can include in your routine:

• After cleansing, you can add a toner to restore a more natural pH balance to your skin.  
• Exfoliating regularly will remove dead skin cells and help keep your pores open. This allows your skin's natural oil to drain before it can clog your follicles and lead to more breakouts.  

After washing, use a moisturizer labeled "non-comedogenic," meaning that it doesn't clog pores. A moisturizer will prevent your skin from dehydrating, especially if you're using an acne treatment that tends to dry the skin, such as benzoyl peroxide. If you have oily skin, a cleanser that already contains a moisturizer may be all you need.

Acne Skin Care Basics

Follow this acne skin care routine to limit breakouts and prevent skin irritation:

• Twice-a-day routine. Wash your face every morning when you wake up and again before you go to bed. If you've been working out and you're all sweaty, wash, or at least rinse your face, as soon as possible. Perspiration can make your acne worse.  
• Clean technique. Each time you wash your face, apply a little bit of cleanser to your fingertips. Gently rub it into your face, and then rinse with lukewarm water. Don't scrub, because it can dry out and damage your skin. Also avoid using a washcloth or sponge, which can be rough enough to irritate the skin.  
• Be thorough. Your acne skin routine isn't just for your face. Treat other parts of your body where you have acne, too.  
• Protect your skin. Skin care doesn't end when you leave your bathroom. Wear a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more that offers both UVA and UVB protection to shield your sensitive skin against the sun's harsh rays. A water- or light liquid-based sunscreen is best for acne-prone skin. Limit your time in the sun, especially between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. While outside, wear a hat with at least a 2-inch brim and clothing to cover exposed skin.

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5 Habits That Wreck Your Skin

You have the best intentions for your skin. You probably have a bathroom drawer full of products to prove it, and you use them every day.

But maybe you've overlooked a few things. Do you have any of these five bad skin habits?

1. Making a Sad Face

They're called frown lines for a reason. "Being unhappy creates bad facial posture -- a frown, pursed lips, and tense facial muscles," says New York dermatologist Doris Day, MD.

While you work on getting happier, there's a shortcut you can take for your face. Try moving your ears back without touching them, Day suggests. Even if you can't do it, just trying helps.

"It's a very open expression. You can't frown and pull your ears back at the same time," she says. "You will feel happier, and people will respond to you more happily."

2. Skipping Sunscreen

"You can't emphasize enough how much sunscreen matters when it comes to skin aging," Day says. "Ninety percent of wrinkles are from sun exposure. Only about 10% are genetic. You have a lot of control."

Wear a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 every day. Slather it on, even on cloudy days. Errands, driving, walking your dog… anything outside requires sunscreen.

Your sunscreen should say "broad-spectrum" on the label, which means it protects against both UVA and UVB rays. UVB rays burn. UVA rays tan, but cause wrinkles. Both rays can cause skin cancer.

Reapply it, too. Check the label to see how often.

3. Overindulging Your Sweet Tooth

Too much sugar can speed up skin aging in a process called glycation, says New Orleans dermatologist Patricia Farris, MD.

She explains that sugar attacks collagen and elastin, which your skin needs for fullness and elasticity. The result: Your skin can wrinkle and sag.

So change your eating habits. Go for lots of fruits and vegetables and good fats, like those found in salmon. That's your best diet plan for looking younger longer, Farris says.

4. Skimping on Sleep

While you sleep, your skin repairs itself. Too little sleep means too little time for skin repair.

People who get too little sleep, take a long time to fall asleep, and toss and turn have more fine lines and uneven coloring, and less skin elasticity, than people who sleep well, a recent study shows.

You need to get enough sleep. Adults need about 7 to 8 hours a night. Try to stick to a sleep schedule.

"If you go to bed a few hours later than normal, you can end up with jet lag in your skin, so you have more puffiness, hollowness, and sagging," Day says. "Be consistent, and you'll see the difference in your skin."

Your sleep position matters, too. "Lying on your side pushes your face forward and creates lines," Farris says. She recommends trying a beauty pillow that reduces pressure on the face during sleep. "It's extremely difficult to sleep on your back, but the less you sleep on your side, the better."

5. Smoking

Smoking isn't just bad for your heart and lungs. It's bad for your skin, too.

"When smokers purse their lips to inhale, they get lip lines, and when smoke goes near their eyes, they squint and get crow's feet," Farris says.

Smoking also makes you more likely to get some skin cancers, leaves your skin sallow, and slows wound healing. It can make infection and scars, including acne scars, more likely, too. Do whatever it takes to quit.