If you're interested in an article I wrote about Acne Skin Care...

Acne - Acne Skin Care

If you have acne and want to get rid of it, the first thing to do is to determine your skin type. Your skin type is the dominant factor in creating an acne skin care plan that will leave your skin looking clean and fresh. Depending on whether you have dry, normal, or oily skin (or any combination of those skin types!) there are specific acne products and regimes tailored to suit your skin type.

To figure out your skin type and how to best prevent acne, ask yourself these questions: Do you have blackheads? What do your pores look like? How often do you have acne?

Keeping in mind your answers to these questions, read on and decide which paragraph below most describes your skin type and acne tendencies.

Dry skin - People with dry skin suffer from minimal acne breakouts and almost never have blackheads because their skin doesn’t produce a lot of oil. The combination of low oil production and small pores mean that the pores stay open and clear, and acne doesn’t occur as often.

To avoid acne, dry skin care should focus on minimizing further moisture loss and avoiding irritating any existing acne.  For instance, don’t use hot tap water or harsh alkaline cleansers.

Rather, use gentle products that have a neutral pH, and never scrub your face. The best lotion for dry skin would be rich and creamy, but non-comedogenic, which means that it doesn’t cause acne. Finally, if you will be exposing your skin to the sun, make sure there is at least an SPF 15 in your moisturizer or makeup, and use an exfoliating cleanser a few times each week.  Since the sun can kill skin cells which then block pores, even those with dry skin can get acne if they don’t protect their skin.

Normal skin - People within the normal skin type suffer from occasional acne and may have some blackheads but mainly in the T-zone across their forehead and down either side of your nose. Within that T-zone, their pores are generally visible, and since they are bigger, they can become clogged more easily, leading to acne breakouts.

The acne skin care for normal type skin is a more moderate regime.

Use a mild soap to wash your face, and apply a light layer of moisturizer in the morning and at night, but only if you need it. If you tend to develop acne within that T-zone, use a skin cleanser over those areas, but dilute it on the other areas of your face that need it less.

Oily skin - Those with oily skin typically have frequent acne and many blackheads, and not just in the T-zone. Their pores are larger and more easily blocked, leading to acne problems.

Acne treatments for oily skin generally suggest that you use warm water and a non-greasy cleaner to dissolve the skin’s oils. Be careful not to scrub or wash your face too many times a day, that will only strip your skin of the necessary oils and encourage even more oil production, causing more acne! Once you have washed your face, use a toner to neutralize the pH of your skin, and follow up with a moisturizer. Yes, even people with acne and oily skin should use moisturizers, however be sure that the lotions are oil-free.

In general, acne skin care should focus on both keeping your face free of acne-causing dirt and bacteria, and creating the right moisture balance for your face. If you need moisture add it; if you don’t need moisture, be careful not to remove too much of it or it could aggravate your acne further. Above all, if you have an acne problem, avoid using harsh products, whatever your skin type.