Your Health Magazine

Millions of teens suffer from acne each year. Acne can be an embarrassing condition and always manages to pop up when least expected and most unwanted. By creating a regimented skin care system you will be able to help avoid acne breakouts from forming and taking over your life. Here is a way to improve your skin and reduce the severity of your acne breakouts from face washing to microdermabrasion.

Your best option for combating acne breakouts is not to focus on the pimples that have already erupted on your skin. The best way to fight acne is to prevent it from erupting in the first place. This is the best manner to reduce any acne scarring. However, if scarring has occurred you may find help through microdermabrasion.

Your first step in a regimented skin care system is to exfoliate while cleansing. This step should be performed both morning and evening. If your cleanser does not already have exfoliating beads you will need to use a washcloth while cleansing to exfoliate the skin. Acne can be caused by excess skin cells obstructing the pores. By properly exfoliating you help to keep your pores unclogged and remove acne causing bacteria.

After exfoliating, your second step will be to use a 2% salicylic acid treatment. You can easily find these products at any drug store. Use this treatment twice a day which will not only assist to remove excess skin cells, but it will also help to keep acne-causing bacteria away from your skin.

While on this acne regimen it is important to moisturize since excessive drying may occur. However, it is essential not to use an oil-based moisturizer which will block your pores. Today, there are moisturizers on the market that are intended to moisturize your skin and help battle acne at the same time. This is a good choice for a facial lotion.

The third step in designing an acne fighting skin care regimen is to utilize sunscreen. You should look for an oil free sunscreen that will not clog up the pores. While most people know that the sun can bring about wrinkles and skin cancer, you may not be aware that the sun actually causes acne breakouts. That is why it is so substantial to protect your skin from the sun whenever you are outdoors, even if it appears to be cloudy.

If you have given this skin upkeep system an honorable try for a couple weeks and there are still stubborn acne occurrences that will not go away, it is time to visit a dermatologist. Prescription medications are harsher than over the counter cures and therefore more effective, but they may also have more side effects. Two good prescription treatments are accutane and retin-a. Both of these medicines will make your skin even more sensitive to the sun, so it is crucial to protect yourself with sunscreen (at least spf 30), a hat and sunglasses. Also, microdermabrasion may be a solution.

This acne skin care procedure will only work if it is used religiously. That means dawn and nighttime everyday, whether or not acne is appearing. This regimen not only works to battle breakouts that have already erupted, but it also works to prevent acne from appearing so you never have to worry about a pesky zit again.