Acne Skin Care

Acne skin care is important to the prevention and treatment of pimples, pustules, whiteheads and blackheads. Acne can occur in the teen years through adulthood. Although it isn’t a serious medical condition it does cause significant emotional and psychological trauma.

Acne skin care and prevention begin from the inside out. Care for the largest organ system in the body, the skin, begins with nutrition. The old adage, you are what you eat, is never more true than in the care of your skin. Your skin is only as healthy as you feed it.

Skin care includes keeping your hair clean as well. Hair oils and dirt can clog the tubes that lead to the oil glands to the top of the skin. Your hands are another way of transmitting dirt and oils to your skin. The skin produces enough of its own oils for protection and moisturizing but adding oils from the hands can do more damage.

Keep your hands off! Picking, popping, pushing and rubbing acne will only make the condition worse and can result in infections and scarring.

Some men choose to use cover-up make up to hide the bumps and red, inflamed areas. If you choose to use make up choose products that are made specifically for acne breakouts and which do not contain more oils that will clog the pores and make the situation even worse.

An important part of your acne skin care regimen is to include using mild cleanser to wash your face at the beginning and end of each day. Also use a gentle technique since scrubbing will worsen the condition. Clean from the hairline to under the jaw and down the neck. Astringents should not be used unless the skin is very oily and then only in the oily areas. Astringents are drying and will cause a rebound effect in your oil glands, causing your skin to secrete more oil and effectively causing more acne.

Some skin care products designed for acne come with a skin toner, which is different from astringent. It is usually more gentle, helps to completely clean the skin and sometimes has active ingredients to help reduce the appearance of new pimples.

Shave with care! Guys who shave should do so with care. You have a choice between an electric razor and a safety razor. Only you can make the choice based on which is most comfortable and which razor you can manipulate without causing more damage.

Your skin care should also include caring for your skin in the sun. Many medications that are used to treat acne make a person more susceptible to sunburns. Although sunburns and tanning make the blemishes less visible they also increase the risk of skin cancer and increase skin aging.

But the sun isn’t all bad. The sun helps the body produce Vitamin D and a bit of sun is actually good for the skin itself. Smart skin care includes wearing sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or more that blocks UVA and UVB rays. The sun is strongest between the hours of 10 am and 4 pm so be sure to add sunscreen liberally and stay indoors during those hours if you can.

With diligent skin care and treatment most teens and young adults are able to reduce the amount of acne or prevent it altogether. However, without good skin care and a solid nutritional diet, most people will suffer from poor skin condition, increased aging process and the potential for acne.