Choosing The Right Acne Treatment.

Happy 2013 beauties.. 
I thought the new year will be a perfect time to give you new skincare advice especially that which will not only help you deal with acne but also help you brighten up and look like you have an all new skin. 

Here's hoping that this post will help you to choose acne treatment for your skin type merely by looking at the product composition. I am going to enlist a few ingredients that are essential for fighting acne. Knowing these will immediately help you to identify a product that is a suitable treatment for your condition. 

1. SALICYLIC ACID

Salicylic Acid works best for skin that has no inflammation. It helps keep pores clear by plunging out the dirt, thus preventing breakouts in the first place. Salicylic Acid can cause some irritation on the skin too. It could burn, peel or flake. You could pair it up with a light oil free moisturizer to control these side-effects.
Asprin is known to contain salicylic acid... You could crunch it up and mix it in a wee bit of water and use it as a spot treatment for acne. 
Always look for products that have salicylic acid in at least 2% or more.

2. BENZOYL PEROXIDE

This reduces the amount of bacteria on the skin. The bacteria that cause acne cannot survive in an oxygenated environment. Benzoyl peroxide being a bleaching agent  introduces oxygen into the skin and this kills the acne causing bacteria. It also acts as an exfoliant. It is most effective for mild to moderate acne. The side effects are similar to those of salicylic acid which can be controlled with a light moisturizer. It is best to start with the lowest 2.5% treatment of benzoyl peroxide and let your skin adjust to it. There are higher concentrations but they often irritate the skin.

3. SULPHUR or SULPHURIC ACID

Products containing sulphur (as high as 10%) work as an excellent spot treatment. These can be very very drying and should not be used anywhere else but the zit.

Mario Badescu Drying Lotion is one such product that contains Sulphur as well as Salicylic Acid that helps eliminate spots. 

4. RETINOL or RETIN-A

Retin-A or Retinol work wonders for treating aging skin or skin that has been overexposed to the sun and has fine lines and wrinkles.

Retinol, available over the counter, contains very very light dozes of vitamin A which can be applied to the skin every night. This increases cell turnover over a period of time and will cause the skin to look more radiant and have less breakouts because it starts exfoliating a lot faster.

Retin-A (Prescription drug only) makes your very skin red and itchy. It will make the skin peel like no other and you are likely to think that you are having an allergic reaction but its actually Retin-A just doing its job.

It could take anything between a month to six months to notice a visible difference as retinols work towards giving you a whole new skin that is clearer and smoother.

5. GLYCOLIC ACID

Glycolic Acid or Alphahydroxy Acid peels off the top layer of the skin. It tingles the skin quite a bit after application but leaves it quite glowy looking. One must use a generous amount of sunscreen to avoid any sunburns post the intense peel. It is great for clogged or enlarged pores. You could use with a 2-5% dosage to begin with.

One must NOT use these many different types of products on their skin at one time. It can be very unhealthy and can cause too much irritation.
These are just some ingredients that you can look for. You can start  with over the counter dosages and see if they help. These are just some things that I have tried out and worked for me. If you are an extreme case of acne, you must consult a dermatologist and get heavier dosages of the treatments that are suitable for your particular skin type and condition.

Hope this helps. :)

Cheers to a gorgeous new you in the new year.. Good Luck.

xx

What's causing you to breakout ?

Acne is a major concern not only for young adults but grown ups too. For sometime, I will be posting all about understanding acne breakouts and things you can do to prevent or treat them. 

The Chin: 

Hormonal imbalances are known to be a major cause of acne around the chin area. You may find that the you are more prone to breaking out on your chin around the time of the month when the hormone levels are a little more spiked than usual. 

The Forehead:

According to ancient chinese medicine, DEHYDRATION is the main cause of breakouts on the forehead area. I cannot reiterate enough, the importance of drinking plenty of water to keep your skin hydrated and healthy.

Your forehead could also be breaking out because you have oily hair or are prone to dandruff and have bangs (hair that falls on your forehead) on your forehead. The oil or dandruff flakes seep down to the forehead and cause breakouts.

Try to change your shampoo/conditioner and see if it is your existing brand of shampoo/conditioner that you are allergic to.  

The Cheeks:

Many a times, breakouts on the cheeks are caused by food allergies. For example, Dairy or Gluten Allergies. Try a gluten free diet and see if it works for you. Eliminate nuts and dairy products for sometime and look for a difference. 

Always remember to disinfect your cellphone and pillowcases. These two are a breeding ground for all the dirt of the world which ultimately comes and sticks to your face. 

The Nose:

There isn't a particular reason that is known for breakouts on the nose other than that the nose has larger pores and as a result of which it is more prone to bigger breakouts. The nose needs special attention in terms of plunging out all the dirt. Make sure you exfoliate really well on a daily basis. 

Stay tuned for a post on what kind of products to look for while trying to prevent or treat acne. Till then I will just just leave you with some cliched advice that you already know but still don't use it enough.. just drink tons of water, keep your hands off your face and keep your skin squeaky clean ! 

Thank you for reading. May your day be just as beautiful as you. 

Good luck !