Other Acne Treatment Products

Some products physically (rather than chemically) agitate your skin. In most cases, they remove dirt, sebum, and dead skin cells from the surface, but they don't do much, if anything, to treat your acne. Having a clean face is great, but these rubby, scrubby products often only serve to irritate and redden an already inflamed complexion. Here are some of the most common physical acne treatments:

 

Pore cleansing strips: These sticky patches temporarily lift solidified sebum and dead cells out of your pores for a day or so. They may occasionally cause mild irritation. They aren't very useful.

 

Acne soaps: Antibacterial foaming washes, scrubs, and soap bars are available in many shapes and sizes. Some contain benzoyl peroxide, others have salicylic acid and some have triclosan, an antibacterial chemical cleanser that removes excess sebaceous secretions.

 

None of them hang around on your skin long enough to do much to help your acne. To make them more effective, leave them on for at least 5 to 10 minutes before rinsing them off.

 

Exfoliants: These are products that physically scrub the skin cells off. They can be very harsh on your skin if you have inflammatory acne, and they can be especially irritating when they contain salicylic acid. Exfoliants come in many forms: abrasive sponges, cosmetic scrubs, facial masks, toners, pads, and sponges. Avoid these products if you have sensitive skin.

 

Masks: Masks to treat acne are essentially self-indulgent ways to spend more money and get a mild facial exfoliation. Masks contain various ingredients such as salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, vitamins, aloe, and lemon juice, to name a few.

 

Loofah sponges: Almost as bad as using sandpaper on your skin if you have inflammatory acne. If you have non-inflammatory acne and tough skin, I guess they can't hurt.

 

These treatments are most effective when used sparingly and in conjunction with other treatments that have antibacterial properties, like benzoyl peroxide. But my final word on all of these products: Save your money! Go with proven treatments like benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid preparations, if you're going to treat acne on your own.