Acne can occur on any type of skin, and can cause the skin to become irritated and inflamed. For people who have darker skin tones, acne can cause the skin to appear blotchy and unevenly textured. Using traditional over-the-counter acne products can cause black and brown skin tones to become overly dry, which can worsen the skin's appearance. Luckily, by following a routine that focuses on keeping the skin properly hydrated while treating acne breakouts with an antibacterial oil, darker skin can become clear without becoming overly dry.
Step 1
Cleanse the skin with a moisturizing facial soap for sensitive skin. Wet the skin well with warm water, and lather the hands with the sensitive skin soap. Gently spread the lather onto the skin, covering the entire area. Rinse off well with water. Perform twice a day.
Step 2
Spot treat acne breakouts with tea tree oil. Dip the end of a cotton swab into pure tea tree oil, and dip it again quickly into water. Apply the diluted oil to the individual acne breakouts, letting the oil soak into the skin. Reapply the oil up to three times a day.
Step 3
Moisturize the skin with an oil-free facial lotion designed for sensitive skin. Squeeze a dime-sized amount of moisturizer onto the fingers, and gently spread the moisturizer around the face. Continue to smooth the moisturizer in until it has been absorbed. Perform twice per day.
Tips and Warnings
- Helpful Information: Black skin can become dry and irritated easily, so it is important to cleanse and treat the skin using products that will not dry out the skin. Soaps that are both moisturizing and formulated for sensitive skin will be free of artificial perfumes, dyes and additives that could cause irritation and will cleanse the skin without damaging it. Look for a soap that contains natural oils and waxes, such as olive oil, coconut oil, shea butter or beeswax. According to the Department of Dermatology at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, using tea tree oil instead of benzoyl peroxide can eliminate acne breakouts without causing the side effects that benzoyl peroxide is known for, such as dryness, redness, peeling and burning. Most people do not realize that acne-prone skin should be moisturized, but neglecting to do so may cause the skin to overproduce oils in order to compensate for the dryness of the skin, which leads to most acne breakouts. It is important to use an oil-free moisturizing lotion that is designed for sensitive skin so that the skin will be properly hydrated without irritation.
Things You'll Need
- Moisturizing soap for sensitive skin
- Tea tree oil
- Cotton swab
- Water
- Oil-free moisturizing lotion for sensitive skin
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