Know What Suits Your Acne Prone Skin Type

Acne is a common skin condition that forms pimples mainly on the face, forehead, shoulders, chest & upper back. It appears when the skin pores are blocked by hair, sebum, bacteria and dead skin cells. They may appear as whiteheads, blackheads, pimples, pustules, papules, cysts or nodules. It commonly affects teenagers during puberty and some adults as well.

Not all acne is the same. They vary from person to person, and different types of acne may pop up in one person. This stubborn bump comes with its traits- blackheads, whiteheads, redness & puss-filled. They need different acne-fighting ingredients to control them.

What are the best ingredients for acne-prone skin?

1. Salicylic acid

An anti-acne hero is a type of beta-hydroxy acid (BHA) that inculcates exfoliating properties to shed dead skin cells & clear out clogged & congested pores. You may find it one of the acne-fighting ingredients while looking for various over-the-counter & prescribed skincare products for acne-prone skin.

Works for: blackheads and whiteheads

How does it work?

The molecular structure of salicylic acid is oil soluble, which breaks down the oil accumulated in the skin pores & clears the blockage. This makes it one of many good ingredients for acne-prone skin to treat the early stage of acne, like whiteheads & blackheads. A high dose of salicylic acid, with its anti-inflammatory property, works to reduce pustules & red acne to some extent.

Tips:

• Look for a cleanser or gel formula with salicylic acid for the best results.
• Its concentration should be 0.5-2% for over-the-counter (OTC) products.
• Combine it with a hydrator and an antioxidant to achieve desired results.
• Do not apply it in larger quantities & larger areas than recommended on the product as it can absorb in the blood easily & may lead to salicylate toxicity.
• Use it as a spot treatment and apply only on the bump.

Any side effects?

Mild stinging, skin discoloration & minor skin irritation

2. Benzoyl Peroxide

An antibacterial ingredient that works exceptionally well by killing bacteria that are the reasons behind forming acne of all types. It is a widely used OTC product or prescription medicine in the form of a gel, cream, facewash, soap and lotion.

Works for: all kinds of acne lesions

How does it work?

Among many ingredients for acne-prone skin, benzoyl peroxide has zero effect on oil build-up. It effectively treats to neutralize the P.acnes (Propionibacterium acnes) bacteria that affects the clogged pores & aggravates acne. This potent ingredient is against most forms of acne, from mild to moderate, like whiteheads, blackheads, papules & pustules.

Tips:

• 2.5-10% strength of benzoyl peroxide is available to you without a prescription. But use lower strength products as they are equally effective as higher strength formulations.
• It is available as a good cleanser or gel formulation.
• It is always advised to use an oily skin-friendly moisturizer to treat acne.

Any side effects?

• Dry skin, scaling, burning, stinging, irritation.
• Be careful while using it as it bleaches hair & clothing.
• No bleaching effect is seen on dark patches that can stay after acne vanishes.

3. Sulphur

A natural mineral that is a fantastic exfoliator, antibacterial & anti-inflammatory among multiple acne-prone skin ingredients. It sloughs away dead skin cells and clears up excess sebum that causes frequent breakouts. It has an unpleasant odor of rotten eggs, but the results are outstanding.

Works for: whiteheads, blackheads & papules

How does it work?

Sulphur is one of those acne-fighting ingredients that efficiently reduces excess sebum & inflammation & exfoliates dead skin cells. It is known as a bacteriostatic agent that prevents bacteria from multiplying. It dries, removes & easily peels off the top layer of the skin- epidermis when applied topically.

Tips:

• 3-5% is a suitable concentration of sulphur to be used.
• Use it either as a cleanser or a short contact spot treatment.

Any side effects?

Refrain from using sulphur in combination with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to avoid a severe allergic reaction.

4. Tea Tree Oil

A unique anti-inflammatory ingredient that serves the perfect among various best ingredients for oily acne-prone skin. It is an organic healer & a widely accessible acne ingredient.

Works for: whiteheads and blackheads

How does it work?

Tea tree oil has rejuvenating qualities that infuse the skin with ample hydration it needs while combating acne. It is a tried & tested formula for aggressive acne.

Tips:

• 5% of tea tree oil is a good concentration for effective results.
• Various OTC products augmented with the goodness of tea tree oil have only a 3% concentration which is low & insufficient to give desired results. Mix it with other anti-acne ingredients to treat your breakouts.

Any side effects?

To avoid an unwanted reaction, consult a dermatologist while mixing tea tree oil with another product.

5. AHA

AHA is an unbeatable ingredient that gives phenomenal results by easing acne-prone skin. This group of chemical exfoliants treats enlarged pores and calms surface-level concerns. It unglues the bond of dull, dead skin cells that could block the pores and cause acne.

Works for: All types of acne and its scars

How does it work?

AHA helps reduce the size of enlarged pores commonly visible in acne-prone skin. Skin cell turnover from mandelic acid, glycolic acid and lactic acid reduces acne & its scars. It effectively alleviates dead skin cells, prevents sebum build-up & averts bacterial overgrowth.

Tips:

It can be used as a daily cleanser in low concentrations, like 3-8%.

Use it as a chemical peel exfoliant once a week at higher concentrations, like 10-15%.

Any side effects?

You might experience tingling, itching & dryness. If you see any of these reactions, limit the usage to every other day or every third day until you get used to it.

6. Niacinamide

An ingredient that will boost confidence by preventing the formation of severe acne. Besides treating acne, this magical ingredient works multi-dimensionally, like minimizing redness & blotchiness, pore appearance, regulating oil, keeping oxidative stress at bay etc.

Works for: Papules and pustules

How does it work?

The anti-inflammatory properties in niacinamide treat several pimples that delay healing, scaring & inflammation. It is one of the best ingredients for sensitive acne prone skin that reduces the overall inflammatory response. It balances the oil & moisture within acne-prone skin, which is a significant factor in controlling acne lesions.

Tips:

It can be used as a daily cleanser in low concentrations, like 3-8%.

Use it as a chemical peel exfoliant once a week at higher concentrations, like 10-15%.

Any side effects?

You might experience tingling, itching & dryness. If you see any of these reactions, limit the usage to every other day or every third day until you get used to it.

Ingredients to avoid by acne prone skin

When you search for acne prone skin ingredients, you should also know which all ingredient won’t suit your acne prone skin, so here’s is the list:

1. Synthetic Perfumes
2. Essential Oils
3. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
4. Isopropyl Myristate & Isopropyl Palmitate
5. SD Alcohol 40, Denatured Alcohol, Ethanol and Isopropyl Alcohol
6. Sodium Chloride
7. Coconut Oil
8. Cocoa Butter
9. Algae Extract
10. Silicones
11. Alcohol
12. Mineral Oil

How to choose the best product for acne prone skin?

1. Begin with acne products that have lower strength

• Following a pattern of using lower strength acne products will help in minimizing inflamed, dry skin & other problems.
• When they suit you, level up the strength of the product, then you were previously using. Practise this for a few weeks so that skin adjusts to the treatment.

2. Don't stick to one product

• Stubborn acne doesn't go away with one product. You need to see more than one product.
• Each product of acne you use should have a different active ingredient or mixture of ingredients.
• You don't have to apply both products simultaneously; apply one product in the morning and the other at night to avoid skin irritation.

3. Choose between the forms of product that work for you

• The product you are likely to use to reduce acne might come in more than one formulation, like soap, lotion, cream, gel or ointment.
• You must try every form to choose the one that works for you. Like creams are less itchy than gel or ointment, but gel & ointments absorb in the skin better and vice versa; it varies according to your skin's suitability.

4. Be patient

• A pimple may come overnight and turn into acne & stay for long, but you have to be patient while treating your skin with topical products.
• It may take 2-3 months of daily use before seeing the results.
• Your rush can make acne even more, worse than getting better.

What Nourish Mantra offers to you?

Acne is a common skin issue but fighting it isn't an easy task. Nourish Mantra has a range of acne products, including ingredients that work effectively against acne like vitamin E, niacinamide, benzoyl peroxide, etc. Our products don't harm your sensitive acne-prone skin but skilfully diminish acne & its scars and build a strong skin barrier. They don't let the dead skin cells clog the pores, produce extra sebum and make space for acne to root up.

The modern science and natural ingredients of our products will amaze you by its efficient results.

FAQ’S

Q. What are some basic tips to follow to prevent acne?

Ans. You should know some basic and easy to follow tips to prevent acne:

• Wash your face twice a day with a mild cleanser.
• Use a thin layer of the acne-fighting product just to cover the face.
• Go for non-comedogenic products.
• Avoid oily or greasy skin care products as they are irritants.
• Don't pick or squeeze blemishes.
• Whatever touches your face should be clean, like hair, phone, helmets, tight collars etc.
• Protect your skin from the Sun.
• Shower after strenuous activities.

Q. Do moisturizers cause acne?

Ans. No, moisturization is a necessity for the skin & it doesn't aggravate acne. In fact, it is an essential part of treating acne. It frees up sebum accumulated inside the pores. But it is important to look for moisturizers that suit acne-prone or oily skin so that the result shouldn't be clogged & congested pores.

Q. Why do you have breakouts during periods?

Ans. Hormone progesterone causes menstrual acne. It increases the sebum production and causes acne. When the excess oil clogs the facial pore, it results in acne, whiteheads and blackheads.