Acne occurs to most people at some time in their lives, but it happens most frequently to people going through puberty, pregnancy or menstruation, when hormone levels are at their highest. Many over-the-counter (OTC) products have been developed to treat acne, and it can be difficult to know which ones are the most effective. Fortunately, a few acne-fighting products can be used regularly that will cleanse, medicate and hydrate the skin for it to clear quickly.
Step 1
Wash the skin gently using a sensitive skin soap. Wet your skin well with water. Lather up your hands with the sensitive skin soap. Spread the lather around your face, and cover the entire effected area. Rinse off the lather with warm water. Repeat twice per day.
Step 2
Medicate the skin deeply using a 2.5-percent benzoyl peroxide cream. Squirt a pea-sized amount of 2.5-benzoyl peroxide cream onto your fingers, and smooth it gently around your face until it completely soaks in. Repeat twice per day after cleansing the skin.
Step 3
Moisturize your skin with an oil-free facial lotion designed for sensitive skin types. Squeeze a dime-sized amount of oil-free lotion onto your fingers, and gently massage it in until it has been absorbed. Repeat twice per day after medicating your skin.
Tips and Warnings
- Most standard facial soaps contain chemicals that can irritate the skin, such as sodium lauryl sulfate, petroleum, artificial perfumes and mineral oil. When the skin breaks out in acne, it can cause the skin to be even more sensitive than normal. Using a standard soap can exacerbate the blemishes. To prevent this, it is important to use a soap formulated for sensitive skin, which will clean the skin without irritating it. Benzoyl peroxide cream clears the skin by releasing oxygen into the pores, which quickly kills off bacteria that helps acne to to form. Many different strengths of benzoyl peroxide cream are available, including 2.5 percent, 5 percent and 10 percent concentrations. If you use the lowest concentration, or 2.5 percent, it will clear up acne breakouts without causing the side effects that the higher concentrated benzoyl peroxide creams are known for, such as peeling, redness and burning. When using a benzoyl peroxide cream, regardless of how strong it is, the skin can become too dry. This requires you to use a hydrating lotion to add moisture back into the skin. It is important to use an oil-free lotion formulated for sensitive skin, which will hydrate the skin without clogging the pores or causing irritation.
Things You'll Need
- Sensitive skin soap
- 2.5-percent benzoyl peroxide cream
- Oil-free moisturizing lotion for sensitive skin
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