Acne sufferers have some potential weapons in their arsenal of acne treatments. Astringents, which remove excess oil from your skin, work by removing dead skin cells, killing acne-causing bacteria or removing excess oil from your skin. If one astringent does not work for you, or is too strong, try another formulation until you find the right astringent for your skin's needs.
Salicylic Acid
Salicylic acid is one of the beta hydroxy class of astringents, originating from fruits and plants, according to the Acne Treatment website.
Salicylic acid works by peeling the top layer of dead skin cells, or exfoliating these cells. Because of how it blends with oil, it can penetrate deep into skin cells and facilitate the growth of new skin cells. As this happens, your skin pores begin to stay clear and you experience fewer acne outbreaks.
This astringent also slows how skin cells in your hair follicles shed. It helps to break down the blackheads and whiteheads on your skin, according to the Acne Myths, Etc. website. Because of how strong salicylic acid is, it can cause skin dryness. When this happens, your skin could rebound, producing more skin oil and causing the reappearance of blemishes, according to the Acne Myths, Etc. website.
Benzoyl Peroxide
Benzoyl peroxide's antibacterial action is what gives this astringent its effectiveness against acne and blemishes, according to the Acne Myths, Etc. website.
You can find an astringent with different percentages of peroxide in them. Start with an astringent containing 3 percent peroxide so you don't irritate and dry your skin out too much. Move to an astringent containing higher percentages of benzoyl peroxide if you need to. One drawback to an astringent containing benzoyl peroxide is its tendency to make your skin more sensitive to the sun. While you are using this product, use a sunscreen to protect your skin from burning.
Acetone
Astringents containing acetone help to clean your skin and rid it of dirt and oils. Because of how strong this ingredient is, your skin could feel like it is burning whenever you apply it, especially if your skin is sensitive, according to the Acne Myths, Etc. website.
If you cannot use astringents containing acetone, find one that contains either benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid.
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