Constantly Washing Acne-Prone Skin
As children, those of us who had the odd pimple or two were constantly pestered by our parents to wash our skin thoroughly. Any time of the day we ran into them they directed us towards the nearest bathroom for a quick washing. Back then, most people thought that acne was cause by oil and dirt on the skin. Washing seemed like the perfect solution. As most of us who now suffer from this disorder know, this is not the case. First of all, the premise which backed this outdated treatment is entirely false. Acne is caused by a disrupted skin shedding cycle. Dead skin does not slough off properly, and instead penetrates empty pores. This is when acne forms.
If dead skin is to blame, why is it such a bad idea to continually wash your face to help remove it? For one, our skin is sensitive. Every time you wet and dry it, you strip it of sebum. Sebum is what helps the skin preserve its moisture. Whenever the skin is dry and irritated, it is more acne-prone. The protectant layer of the skin known as the acid mantle is unable to function properly when irritation is rampant.
Fluctuations in skin acidity can be a major problem when using soaps. The outer layer of our skin, known as the stratum corneum or acid mantle, works best in a slightly acidic environment. The moment we apply soapy water to our face, a disruption occurs. Soap is alkaline, finding itself on the other side of the pH scale. A single cleaning with a standard soap can disrupt the acidity for up to 24 hours. The length of time required for restoration of the skin’s pH is multiplied when several cleansings are in order for the day.
The bottom-line is that excessive skin cleaning will not help acne, but rather exacerbate its presence. The main secret to fighting acne is to be gentle to the skin, which includes using the right cleansing products no more than twice a day. Topical medications also play an important role, but unless the skin is in a non-aggravated state, they will prove ineffective.
If you are washing your acne-prone face because of excessive oil, you should consider looking into oil-blotting sheets. These are tissue-paper like sheets available at most stores. They can help effectively absorb excessive sebum without irritating your skin. Be sure to use these with clean hands!
Find out how to get rid of pimples fast and read an acne pimples overview thru our website.
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