How Should I Exfoliate My Skin If I Have Acne?
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Exfoliation is essential to helping reduce your incidence of acne. If you suffer from this skin condition, there's one kind of exfoliant you need to know about.
This ingredient not only exfoliates but also helps to reduce the bacteria and inflammation commonly associated with acne and pimples.
If you have acne, you may think exfoliation isn't for you. It's true that scrubbing away at skin that's already inflamed is not wise.
However, one method of exfoliation is safe for and effective on acne-prone skin. In fact, one exfoliating ingredient in particular is perfect for treating acne.
The Best Exfoliating Treatments for Acne.
If you're determined to keep a clear complexion, this expertly formulated gel will be an important addition to your skincare routine. Best for dry, acne prone skin, this complexion clearing gel exfoliates away dead skin cells on the surface and tackles congestion deep in the pore. It features glycolic, lactic and salicylic acid. A blend of tea tree and calendula then work to soothe the skin. We recommend this as a spot treatment, but it can be used wherever there is acne.
Best Exfoliator Mask for Acne Prone Skin
With deep-cleaning Kaolin and Bentonite clay, this mask really goes all the way to decongest your complexion. You'll love this mask for it's cooling feel and refreshing, purifying effect. This natural antimicrobial formula minimises current breakouts and prevents future ones too. Best for oily skin, this mask can be used weekly to avoid drying effect.
Best Chemical Exfoliator for Whiteheads
This potent, targeted pore treatment is our go-to for whiteheads that have reared their head. Made with eucalyptus, tea tree and pore-clearing salicylic acid, blemishes are targetted and diminished. As the best face exfoliator for acne for targetting whiteheads, this formula works quickly and also contains calming ingredients to prevent future blackheads. It can be applied both under or over make-up, and is recommended for daily use.
Best Face Exfoliator for Sensitive, Acne Prone Skin
Sensitive, acne prone skin is unlikely to respond well to harsh scrubs or seriously potent exfoliating treatments. If this sound like your skin, give an enzyme treatment a go. This gentle and granule-free exfoliator gently dissolves dead skin cells, while smoothing the skin. It's a formula that uses fig enzymes, as well as a papain & amino complex to even skin tone and diminish blemishes. Plus, this formula leaves the skin bright and supple.
Best Exfoliating Face Wash for Acne Prone Skin
This acne exfoliating scrub tackles blemishes from every angle. Chemical and physical exfoliants work together work together brilliantly, making this the ultimate acne cleanser and exfoliating scrub for acne scars. Salicylic, lactic and glycolic acids all work to clear pores and even out texture. Recommended for oily skin, this cleanser works seriosuly hard to remove dead skin cells and impurities.
Hands down, this Korean power essence is one of the best face exfoliators for acne prone skin. This formula uses willowbark, a natural BHA to clear pores and reveal a brighter complexion. Perfect for oily skin, this essence balances sebum and eliminates blackheads. An essence like this is a great way to exfoliate acne prone skin. It's quite potent, so it's recommended that you only use it 2-3 times a week.
Why Exfoliate Acne-Prone Skin?
Exfoliation is extremely important in the treatment of acne. That's because acne-causing bacteria actually thrive on dead skin cells.
The more sustenance is available, the easier it is for the bacteria to populate. The easier they find it to populate, the more acne lesions form.
Exfoliation limits both the number of dead skin cells that remain on your skin and the amount of time they remain. Both of these benefits help to remove a key factor in the cause of acne.
What Type of Exfoliation is Best for Acne-Prone Skin?
When most people think of exfoliation, they think of physical exfoliants: products such as facial scrubs, konjac sponges, and cleansing cloths.
If you have acne-prone skin, you should avoid these items all costs, because they:
- Are breeding grounds for spot-causing bacteria
- Can inflame sensitive skin through excessive scrubbing action
- Can push acneic papules and pustules into the deeper layers of your skin
Instead of using physical exfoliants, acne-prone skin types should always opt for chemical exfoliants.
Chemical exfoliators use acids or enzymes to dissolve the glue that holds dead skin cells together without any irritating scrubbing action.
The outermost layers of skin are already dead, so they're more resistant to pollution and invaders. The challenge comes when these layers stick around for too long.
Slow cell turnover is especially problematic for acne-prone skin and acne scars. The excess sebum production associated with this condition contributes to the delay.
Chemical Exfoliant Ingredients:
- Glycolic acid
- Lactic acid
- Papain (enzyme derived from papaya)
- Bromelain (enzyme derived from pineapple)
One of these ingredients outperforms all the others when it comes to exfoliating acne-prone skin. This makes choosing an effective product for your skin type easy!
Which Type of Chemical Exfoliant is Best for Acne-Prone Skin?
When exfoliating acne-prone skin, you want an ingredient that can reach deeply into the pores of your skin. This is where problematic, acne-provoking areas of dead skin can collect.
While all chemical exfoliants can penetrate the deeper layers of skin, only one is perfectly formulated to reach within your pores: salicylic acid.
Because salicylic acid is most soluble in oil, this ingredient can easily travel deep into pores that are coated by your skin's natural oil: sebum.
Most people who suffer from acne also exhibit an increased rate of sebum production. This makes salicylic acid ideal for treating the condition.
In addition, salicylic acid offers a variety of additional benefits for acne-prone skin types, including:
- Antibacterial
- Anti-inflammatory
- Anti-redness
- Increased collagen production (which helps to defend against acne scars)
When used regularly, skincare products containing salicylic acid help reduce dead skin, sebum production, hyperpigmentation and inflammation.
Salicylic acid tackles the acne cycle from multiple sides, which is why this ingredient is so effective.
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