Acne is a chronic skin disease. The primary cause of acne breakout is a rise in the level of androgen in our bodies.
This high androgen level induces the sebaceous glands to produce more sebum.
Sebum is the oil like substance secreted by the sebaceous gland which is used to moisturize the hair follicles and surface of the skin.
However, its overproduction along with an accumulation of dead skin cells on the surface leads to clogging of the skin pores, preventing the sebum to get out and creating an environment that is congenial to the growth of the bacteria and microbes.
It is these microbes that cause acne breakouts.
How to Wash Acne Prone face?
Since the acne prone face is particularly damaged and painful, it is very important that you wash your face in a particular manner and with certain such washes that will benefit your skin largely as well as help in reducing the eruptions and healing the damaged skin.
Enumerated below is a list of ways in which you must wash your acne prone skin.
Using salicylic acid to wash
Salicylic acid is one of the most highly recommended washes to use when suffering from acne eruptions.
It is famous for being one of the most effective chemicals against acne.
It works in various ways.
Firstly, it enters the hair follicles and causes the dead skin cells to shed thereby affecting an unclogging process of the skin pores.
Secondly, it helps in affecting shrinkage of the blackheads and whiteheads.
Furthermore, its acidic nature tends to inhibit the growth of the bacteria.
Using it may cause some irritation but it will certainly not cause peeling and redness of the skin.
This is available in both high and low concentrations and also tends o keep your skin moisturized.
Using Benzoyl Peroxide
Benzoyl peroxide is another extremely helpful wash to use while cleansing the acne prone skin.
This works in the same manner as salicylic acid by shedding the dead skin cells and unclogging the blocked skin pores but it also additionally tends to kill the bacteria and stop their spread under the surface of their skin which may otherwise increase the severity of the breakout.
It is usually available in various concentrations of 2.5%, 5%, and 10% and may show its complete result only after a period of 4 to 6 weeks.
It may cause drying of the skin in which case you must regularly keep your skin moisturized.
Be gentle on your skin while cleaning
You must keep some factors in mind while going for cleaning your face.
As it has been asserted time and again, washing your skin is important to remove the sweat and dirt accumulation because they tend to facilitate the occurrence of breakout, you must be careful while doing the same.
For one thing, the soap or cleanser that you use must not be rough as it can damage your skin, making it rough and also at the same time remove the protective layer of the skin which is present on the surface.
Too much washing is also not recommended because doing so will only make your skin over dry thereby stimulating the sebaceous glands to produce more oil o compensate for the lost moisture.
Therefore you must stick to washing your face only twice or thrice a day depending on the dirt and pollution exposure.
Try to Avoid Exfoliation
Though it has been a fact not unknown that exfoliation tends to remove the dead skin cells from the surface of the skin and prevent the clogging of skin pores thereby, it is usually suggested that on the acne prone skin exfoliation or scrubbing should not be done to an extreme level.
For one thing, exfoliation may be too harsh on your already damaged skin and if it causes extreme dryness, it may also stimulate sebum production by the sebaceous glands in order to make up for the lost moisture.
If you must exfoliate in any case, you must make sure that you do so gently with slow motions of your fingertips and do not rub it afterward with a towel.
Check the Temperature of the Water
It is usually advised that you use lukewarm water to wash your face.
While hot water will make your pores too large by opening it, cold water will close the pores in which, thereby, the sebum gets trapped and instigates bacterial growth while also preventing other medications and cleansers used for acne does not get inside.
Lukewarm water is the best suited. It will help in increasing the blood flow to the face while also acting as a heat compressor and soothing the inflamed and damaged skin.
This will further help in reducing the inflammation induced redness and swelling of the damaged skin.
Use a Cloth or Hand to Wash
It has been suggested that you avoid using harsh scrubbing brushes and pads as well as loofas to clean your skin.
Instead, use your hands or a clean soft cloth.
Using anything otherwise might be harsh on your skin and may cause irritation to the skin making it red and inflamed.
It will add to the sensitivity with which you handle your skin and minimize the damage done.
Furthermore, use your hand or the cloth in light circular movement without exerting too much pressure on your skin.
Be soft, gentle and light when it comes to washing your face.
Do not use Strong Cleaners
It is very important to use cleansers that do not dry out your skin extremely.
Examples of such cleansers include certain kinds of alcohol washes along with witch hazel.
The extreme dryness that they may cause can only result in inducing the sebaceous gland to produce more sebum in order to maintain the moisture of the skin and may contribute to the conditions of breakout thereby.
Pat Dry
Post washing either leave the skin to dry by itself or pat dry. Do not rub anything for drying.
Rubbing may cause irritation and lead to other problems.
Summary
There is a dire need for you to be careful while washing your acne prone skin.
Any minor diversion may make the breakout worse and may also instigate new ones.
Therefore stick to the procedures and products mentioned above in order to ensure quick healing and also prevent further damage to the skin.