Suitable Cleansers for Acne

A reliable acne product should call for a cleansing process. Cleanser allows your skin to more easily get rid of dead skin cells and other surface contaminants. While the cleaning process is simple in itself, there is more to treating acne than just technique. You need to have the right products in your arsenal. Without the right cleanser, you may be subjecting your skin to irritation, which ultimately contributes to more acne breakouts. It is not uncommon to see people utilize products with very harsh ingredients. Such ingredients, like sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and alcohol can be immensely damaging to the skin. Those that presently suffer from acne that has not responded well to over-the-counter treatments should take a close look at their cleanser of choice. To follow, we will be exploring the characteristics that constitute a quality cleanser.

Sodium lauryl sulfate, or SLS, is an additive in cleaning products that until now has received minimal attention. This chemical is designed to induce a lather effect regardless of water hardness. An overwhelming portion of homes in the United States receive hard water, which when combined with conventional soap forms soap scum. Although the danger of SLS is subject to ongoing debates, it is presently classified as a pesticide. SLS is also used in industrial cleaning products such as engine degreaser. This fact should not bode well with anyone. Tests have consistently shown that SLS irritates the skin. This irritation ultimately worsens the frequency and severity of acne breakouts. If you are in the market for a cleanser, be sure to avoid any products that contain this additive. Taking a quick peek a the product label should immediately indicate whether or not a particular cleanser contains this harmful ingredient.

It is a mystery why most people believe cleanser is designed to remove oils from the skin, leaving it tight and uncomfortable. Despite popular belief, cleanser is actually designed to remove contaminants off your skin without drastically affecting skin moisture levels. Removing oils from your skin can prove immensely troublesome, leaving it dry and irritated. This often translates to more acne. Some studies have also suggested that the skin may overcompensate for lost oil, by producing more, causing an oily complexion. If you want to avoid such problems, it is best to avoid cleansers with astringents such as alcohol. If your current cleanser gives you that tight feeling after washing, you should switch to another, more suitable product.

The uppermost layer of skin is designed to protect us against external threats. To maintain this barrier-like quality, the skin must maintain optimal conditions, including a certain acidity. Skin likes a slightly acidic environment, one that falls within the 4-5 pH range. Soaps and cleansers often disrupt this pH due to their basic nature. When a disruption in acidity occurs, our skin is left vulnerable to attack. You can avoid disrupting your skin's acidic environment by using a pH balanced cleanser. These cleansers, with a pH of 7, enable our skin to continue providing essential protection.

Finding a quality cleanser is not as monumental a task as it initially appears. When you begin using a quality product, the results should be immediate. Your skin will begin to feel far more healthy. With the right, gentle products, acne should be quite manageable.

Learn about the best acne cleansers from our how to get rid of acne website.