Oil on the Skin: remember going through adolescence, and the first time you noticed that your face was always seeming oily? This is a natural part of the adolescent process, but has an unfortunate side-effect...all of that pooled oil leads to the start of acne.
Skin Pores: as the oil lies there and mixes with impurities on the skin, this will lead to your pores becoming clogged, which in turn becomes a breeding ground for our next culprit.
Acne Bacteria: those clogged pores are a great place for bacteria to multiply, as they do so, your skin becomes irritated and inflamed, leading to visible acne.
Skin Inflammation: in an unfair vicious cycle, the existing acne causes skin damage which in turn sets the groundwork for the next round of acne. So, even as one infection fades another arises to take its place.
Now that we have examined the cycle of acne, let us consider what can be done to address it step-by-step.
1. Good hygiene: you cannot stop your face from becoming oily, but you can keep it clean. Throughout the day, be ready to wash your face with a mild cleanser, being careful not to over-dry your skin. Use of a non-comedogenic (ie "non pore-clogging") moisturizer can help keep your skin healthy yet clean.
Also, it is critical that you avoid picking at your face throughout the day. Not only can this re-distribute oil and bacteria, you can potentially damage infected skin further, allowing the bacteria to go deeper into the skin.
2. Salicylic Acid: despite the best care and cleaning of your skin, some pores will likely still become clogged over time. Salicylic acid addresses this by dissolving pore blockages, making it more difficult for acne to gain a foothold.
3. Benzyl Peroxide: this is the heavy gun to use on the acne directly. Benzyl peroxide deprives the bacteria of critical oxygen, killing them off. This makes it both an effective treatment for stopping an acne infection, as well as making it more difficult for the bacteria to multiply and cause another.
If you follow these three basic treatments, you should be able to keep your acne well in check. There are a few hazards to consider, however, so be aware that each of these can cause your skin to dry out. If this happens to an excessive degree, your skin may produce more oil and worsen the problem.
For this reason, gradually introduce the salicylic acid and benzyl peroxide, and be ready to adjust the dosages if you notice that your skin cannot tolerate it. As your face adapts to the treatment, this will become less of a problem.
Acne Home Treatment
