ACNE: COMMON TREATEMENT MISTAKES TO AVOID

Aren’t I too old for acne? 

You may have thought you left acne behind when you were a teenager. Unfortunately, acne is a chronic recurring skin condition that affects even adults, especially women. It is an inflammation of the oil glands and hair follicles in the skin, and usually occurs on the face, chest and back. When dead skin cells and oil build up and clog up your skin’s follicles, it creates the perfect environment for acne to cause inflammation, forming a pesky pimple. 

Common treatment mistakes to avoid

There are many acne treatment options out there, from over-the-counter products, to anti-inflammatory steroid injections offered by dermatologists. A quick Google search turns up more than 2 billion websites touting acne treatments that you may be tempted to try. But in your journey towards healthy clear skin, be sure to avoid these common treatment mistakes. 

Aiming for that Squeaky Clean Feeling

Many people with acne have skin that feels greasy within hours of cleansing. Some may only feel they’ve effectively cleansed their skin if they’re left with a slightly tight, squeaky clean feeling. Washing your skin too often, or using unsuitable cleansers like harsh scrubs or overdrying facial washes can irritate your skin by stripping it of its natural oils. When your skin is dried out, it overcompensates by producing more oil. Oily skin does not necessarily mean your skin is moisturised. In fact, oily skin can also lack hydration and be dry. 

Instead, stick to washing your face with a gentle cleanser twice a day to remove dirt and excess oil, unless you’re perspiring heavily after sports or other activities. 

Avoiding Moisturiser

It seems counterintuitive, but even oily skin needs to be moisturised. For acne-prone skin, choose lightweight moisturisers that hydrate and nourish your skin without clogging your pores. It’s best to avoid moisturisers which contain the following: 

Mineral oil, waxes and petrolatum – These ingredients can be too rich and have a tendency to clog pores. 

Artificial fragrances and perfumes – These are treated as trade secrets that legally do not have to be individually declared on an ingredients list. Many of them contain toxins that may irritate and worsen acne.

Parabens – These preservatives can cause allergic reactions and further irritate your pores. 

Looking for a Quick Fix 

Who hasn’t, at some point, bought into ads that promise clear skin overnight? Most likely, you were left disappointed. Instead of trying faddish, over-hyped wonder cures, you’d be better off sticking with tried-and-tested acne treatments like BSKIN’s Anti-Acne 3C Spot Treatment. It’s a gentle yet effective targeted treatment cream that helps leave your skin blemish-free. It’s formulation contains Sulfur, Witch hazel, Volcanic ash, and Clay to clear excess oil and dead skin cells that can clog pores, and skin-soothing ingredients like Calamine and Panthenol to calm your irritated complexion. It also contains Glutathione and Vitamin C to care for post-blemish scars and pigmentation. 

There is no single anti-acne product that works for everyone, so it may take several tries to find the treatment that’s best for you. Achieving healthy, balanced skin takes time, patience and consistency. In fact, anything that’s able to dry out your acne overnight will likely also cause dryness and leave post-acne pigmentation and flakiness on the surrounding skin. 

Clean, clear and glowing skin doesn’t have to be unattainable. By making some simple adjustments to your current skincare routine, you can improve your skin health and reduce the frequency of your acne breakouts as well.