The Top Cleansers for Acne-Prone Skin

All of us experience a pimple or two now and again, but for some people, acne is a constant battle. It’s estimated that up to 20% of the U.S. population suffer from chronic acne.

But what is acne exactly?

The Ins and Outs of Acne

Acne commonly occurs during puberty, and is basically a skin disease that involves the oil glands at the base of the hair follicles. While acne isn’t life threatening, it can leave severe scars. Skin has pores which connect to oil glands located under the skin. These glands produce oil, and are connected to pores through follicles. The oil carries dead skin cells through the follicles to the surface of the skin. Small hairs also grow through the follicles out of the skin. Pimples develop when these follicles get blocked, resulting in an accumulation of oil under the skin.

There are several different types of acne, including:

• Whiteheads, which are a type of non-inflammatory acne, consist of small blemishes with, you guessed it, whitish heads. Whiteheads result when pores get plugged with sebum and dead skin cells.
• Blackheads, which are yet another type of non-inflammatory acne, are basically the same thing as whiteheads, except that they are open. They’re black in color because when all that debris in the pore comes into contact with air, it oxidizes and turns black.
• Papules, a type of inflammatory acne, are small to medium sized pimples that result when a whitehead comes into contact with bacteria. They’re often swollen and red but lack pus.
• Pustules are similar to papules, but they’ve got pus. They may be larger in size and tender to the touch.
• Cystic acne consists of inflamed pimples that seem to last for months at a time. They’re usually big, red, and painful pimples that go deep within your skin. This is considered a type of severe inflammatory acne, and oftentimes results in acne scarring.

From Genes to Hormones: The Causes of Acne

There’s no one factor that causes acne. Some common contributing factors to acne include:

• Genetics. Sometimes acne is just genetic, especially the more severe kinds like cystic acne.
• Diet. Studies have shown that dairy products and high glycemic foods can trigger acne.
• Oil Production. Some people have naturally more oily skin than others, resulting in acne breakouts.
• Hormones. Women tend to break out more often right before and/or during their time of the month. Some oral contraceptive pills help clear up acne.
• Cosmetics. Cosmetics that aren’t non-comedogenic may clog your pores, contributing to acne outbreaks.
• Medications. Certain medications can worsen acne, like those containing iodides, bromides, and steroids.

How Do I Get Rid of Acne?

Usually over-the-counter acne treatments work for the occasional pimple, but if you have more severe acne, finding the right treatment can be tricky. The best treatments inhibit sebum production, limit bacterial growth, and/or encourage skin cell renewal to unclog pores. Some nonprescription treatments for acne include:

• Certain cleansers are specifically designed for acne. They usually contain salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, or sulfur.
• Over the counter benzoyl peroxide creams help to treat acne by destroying the bacteria in pores. It usually takes four weeks to work, and should be used continuously.
• Salicylic acid helps to correct abnormal shedding of cells, and also helps unclog pores. It should be used continuously, and salicylic acid is available in different forms, including lotions, creams, and pads.

Prescription treatments for more severe acne are:

• Antibiotics are an effective acne treatment, and work by clearing the skin of bacteria as well as reducing inflammation. Antibiotics are available both orally and topically.
• Retinoids, derived from vitamin A, clear up moderate-to-severe acne. How? By normalizing the way your skin grows and sheds. They’re often used in conjunction with oral antibiotics.
• Oral contraceptives can be highly effective in treating acne if it’s caused by a hormonal imbalance. The maximum benefit of oral contraceptives on acne occurs in three to four months.

Some Top Cleansers for Acne Prone Skin

If you’ve got acne prone skin, then you should start off using the right cleanser designed for acne before trying other more invasive treatments.

Here are some top cleansers for acne prone skin:

1. Boscia Clear Complexion Cleanser. This deep-cleansing facial cleanser purifies your pores and protects against irritations and reactions. It’ll also leave your complexion shine-free.
2. Clarisonic Acne Daily Clarifying Cleanser. This powerful cleanser works to remove dirt, oil and impurities while still being gentle enough to use regularly. It also contains salicylic acid to help clear acne.
3. Lush Herbalism Cleanser. This cleanser contains natural ingredients like ground almonds to gently exfoliate. It also contains kaolin clay and rice bran to soak up excess oils as well as rosemary and chamomile to calm skin.
4. Kate Somerville Detox Daily Cleanser. This cleanser removes impurities without over drying skin, fighting acne-causing bacteria and stabilizing oil production.
5. Clean and Clear Continuous Control Acne Cleanser. This affordable cleanser removes dirt and oil and contains acne medication designed to fight and prevent breakouts.
6. First Aid Beauty Skin Rescue Deep Cleanser. This foaming cleanser, which contains rosemary oil and red clay, removes excess oil, unclogging pores and purifying skin.
7. Ole Henriksen Aloe Vera Deep Cleanser. This cleanser soothes irritated and red skin as well as combats acne.
8. Murad Time Release Acne Cleanser. This anti-aging acne cleanser contains salicylic acid that helps to clear skin. It also contains amino acids and hyaluronic acid that moisturize skin without causing oiliness.
9. Peter Thomas Roth Beta Hydroxy 2% Acne Wash. This gentle cleanser rids your skin of enlarged pores, excess sebum and harmful bacteria. Best of all, this cleanser is free from additives that can irritate and dry out skin.
10. Ren ClearCalm 3 Clarifying Clay Cleanser. This antibacterial cleanser doesn’t contain parabens, sulfates, and phthalates. It combats three key causes of breakouts – excess oil production, dead skin cell buildup, and bacteria.

Need a Little Extra Help Making Your Acne Vanish?

If cleansers alone aren’t cutting it, here’s three non-invasive treatments that can significantly reduce the appearance of active acne and acne scarring:

LED Photo Facials

LED photo facials use narrow spectrum light to destroy acne-causing bacteria. The effects of the light therapy depend on the wavelength being used. Blue wavelengths kill acne-causing bacteria.

What’s a LED photo facial like? LED photo facials are extremely gentle and painless.  Before treatment, you’ll be asked to remove all make up and put on protective eyewear.  A medical professional will position the LED light close to the treatment area for a certain amount of time, usually around 20 minutes. Because there is no heat involved, you can confidently resume your normal activities directly following a procedure.

Outcomes tend to vary more with LED photo facial treatments. Some people notice results in as little as a few days. Others take a month or two to notice a change. Though LED results can be subtle at first, they continue to improve after each successive treatment. You’ll likely notice a big change in your acne after undergoing LED photo facials for three months or longer.

Clear + Brilliant

Kiss acne goodbye with Clear + Brilliant.

Clear + Brilliant rejuvenates the skin from the inside out using a non-invasive dioxide laser. Its non-invasive laser technology gently resurfaces the top layer of the dermis by creating millions of microscopic treatment zones in the skin. Sounds complicated, right? But it’s really just about replacing damaged skin with healthy, younger-looking tissue. The result? Smoother, softer and youthful-looking skin – and most importantly – significantly reduced pore size and less visible acne.

The treatment itself is simple. Each Clear + Brilliant procedure takes about thirty minutes. A topical numbing agent is applied to the face forty minutes prior to the procedure. This is removed right before treatment begins. The actual laser session lasts a quick ten minutes, and most patients experience only a warm tingling or prickling sensation with little or no discomfort. To ensure proper contact with the skin and uniform application to all treated areas, Clear + Brilliant technology uses a patented intelligent Optimal Tracking System. Directly after the Clear + Brilliant laser treatment, a cooling face mask is placed on the treated area for 10 to 15 minutes to reduce any residual sensation of heat.

Clear + Brilliant is clinically proven to significantly improve the appearance of skin. Almost all patients who undergo Clear + Brilliant treatments report their skin looks younger and feels smoother. What’s more, their skin achieves a noticeable glow after a series of three to five Clear + Brilliant treatments. This glow owes to the fact that Clear + Brilliant significantly helps refresh skin tone and refine skin texture by shrinking down pore size – indeed, many patients see a significant difference in the appearance of their skin after only one treatment. Within as little as a week, patients notice brighter, softer, more refined and more youthful skin texture. And most importantly, less visible acne scarring!

Botox

You’re probably thinking: Botox? For acne?

But Botox can help acne. Here’s how Botox works: Botox is a neurotoxin and works by attaching itself to nerve endings. Once this happens, the neurotransmitter responsible for triggering muscle contractions, called acetylcholine, can’t be released. To put it more simply, Botox injections temporarily relax the facial muscles that underlie and cause wrinkles.

Botox treats acne much in the same way as it treats wrinkles —  by blocking the chemical acetycholine in the skin’s dermis. Acetycholine is responsible for increasing the sebum production, so if it’s blocked, skin won’t overproduce oil. Less oil production means fewer breakouts. Not only does Botox control oil overproduction, it also reduces pore size as well.

What can you expect from your first Botox procedure? The best part about undergoing Botox is that it’s quick and painless. You’ll generally receive a consultation beforehand to determine the best treatment for your needs. And when you do undergo a treatment, a topical numbing gel will be applied fifteen minutes prior. Six to eight injections will be administered into the underlying muscles. Most people say that the injections feel similar to getting vaccinated – that is, they feel only a few seconds of mild discomfort as the Botox enters the injection site. A few hours afterwards, the injection site may look red and feel irritated.

Let LaserAway Help You Clear Up Your Acne

LaserAway is proud to offer the most medical spa service options of any national skincare provider. LaserAway hires only the most highly trained staff experienced and certified in administering laser and other dermatological procedures. What’s more, LaserAway uses only innovative techniques and cutting-edge laser technology. LaserAway aims to make your medical spa experience comfortable, enjoyable and satisfying. Want to learn more about Botox? LED photo facials? Clear + Brilliant? Then schedule a free, no obligation consultation today by emailing LaserAway.net or calling the staff at LaserAway at (888) 965-2737. LaserAway looks forward to helping you turn back the clock with Botox.